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AN
NU
AL REPO
RT 2018/19 年報 2018/19
年報 ANNUAL REPORT
2018/19
CONTENTS
1Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
Corporate Information 2
Chairman’s Statement 3
Management Discussion and Analysis 5
Corporate Governance Report 13
Environmental, Social and Governance Report 28
Biographical Details of Directors and Senior Management 34
Report of Directors 37
Independent Auditor’s Report 49
Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss 55
Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income 56
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 57
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 59
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 60
Notes to the Financial Statements 61
Financial Summary 140
2 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CORPORATE INFORMATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORSExecutive DirectorsMr. Lee Cheong Yuen (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer)Mr. Chan Kwok Pui (Redesignated from Non-executive Director to Executive Director on 22 February 2019)Mr. Pang Yick Him (Resigned on 22 February 2019)
Non-executive DirectorsMr. Tam Kwok WahMs. Tuon Wai Man (Appointed on 22 February 2019)
Independent Non-executive DirectorsDr. Cheung Siu Nang BruceMr. Fong Sing Chak Jack (Appointed on 1 September 2018)Ms. Kam Man Yi MargaretDr. Chan Mee Yee (Resigned on 13 July 2018)
COMPANY SECRETARYMr. Pun Shing Cheung, CPA (Appointed on 22 February 2019)Mr. Pang Yick Him, CPA (PRACTISING), FRM (Resigned on 22 February 2019)
AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVESMr. Lee Cheong YuenMr. Pun Shing Cheung (Appointed on 22 February 2019)Mr. Pang Yick Him (Resigned on 22 February 2019)
AUDIT COMMITTEEMs. Kam Man Yi Margaret (Chairlady of audit committee)Dr. Cheung Siu Nang BruceMr. Fong Sing Chak Jack (Appointed on 1 September 2018)Dr. Chan Mee Yee (Resigned on 13 July 2018)
REMUNERATION COMMITTEEMr. Fong Sing Chak Jack (Appointed on 1 September 2018) (Chairman of remuneration committee)Dr. Cheung Siu Nang BruceMs. Kam Man Yi MargaretDr. Chan Mee Yee (Resigned on 13 July 2018)
NOMINATION COMMITTEEDr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce (Chairman of nomination committee)Mr. Fong Sing Chak Jack (Appointed on 1 September 2018)Ms. Kam Man Yi MargaretMr. Lee Cheong YuenMr. Chan Kwok Pui (Appointed on 22 February 2019)Dr. Chan Mee Yee (Resigned on 13 July 2018)Mr. Pang Yick Him (Resigned on 22 February 2019)
AUDITORSCrowe (HK) CPA Limited
REgISTERED OFFICEClifton House75 Fort StreetP.O. Box 1350Grand Cayman KY1-1108Cayman Islands
HEAD OFFICE AND PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS IN HONg KONgOffice A, 25th FloorTG PlaceNo. 10 Shing Yip StreetKowloon, Hong Kong
PRINCIPAL SHARE REgISTRAR AND TRANSFER OFFICEEstera Trust (Cayman) Ltd.Clifton House75 Fort StreetP.O. Box 1350Grand Cayman KY1-1108Cayman Islands
HONg KONg BRANCH SHARE REgISTRAR AND TRANSFER OFFICEUnion Registrars LimitedSuites 3301-04, 33/F.Two Chinachem Exchange Square338 King’s Road, North PointHong Kong
PRINCIPAL BANKERSCitibank N.A.DBS Bank (Hong Kong) LimitedShanghai Commercial Bank LimitedThe Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
WEBSITE ADDRESSwww.ico.com.hk
STOCK CODE1460
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
3Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
Dear Shareholders,
On behalf of the board (the “Board”) of directors (the “Directors”) of ICO Group Limited (the “Company”), I am presenting to you this annual report of the Company which comprises the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Group”) for the year ended 31 March 2019 (“FY2019”)
FY2019 was an eventful year for the Group. We opened at loss, and ended in profit. In between are round-the-clock effort and undivided attention on how to turnaround our business. Starting from the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer downwards and outwards, everyone had been involved. We tightened financial and cash flow discipline. We rethought our business model. We rebalanced our service portfolio. We redesigned our organisation. We streamlined and automated operations and processes. We reexamined and justify each and every function, position and role. We cut out all forms of inefficiencies and wastes.
Eventually we succeeded.
We can now claim that we have recorded a turnaround. The consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders of the Company now approximate HK$84 million at the end of FY2019.
Viewed from the angle of finance, our profit making position could be mainly accounted for by:
(i) a significant increase in revenue deriving from our IT infrastructure solutions segment, and
(ii) the revenue contributed by the long-term maintenance phases of a few of our large scale projects, following their satisfactory delivery. Collectively these streams of income will become the bed-rock for assuring regular and sizable revenue for decade to come from our maintenance and support services segment.
One major reason for our setback in financial performance in FY2018, however, was due to the uncontrollable tender bidding processes for large-scale projects and our disproportionate reliance on this line of work. Taking lesson from this, our Group had resolved to seek more diversification, internally as well as externally, but only to areas around our core competences.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen
4 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
Accordingly, during FY2019 our Group had undertaken to (i) duplicate our sales channels; (ii) restructure and multiply our customer portfolio; and (iii) focus on significant investments.
With regards to the third point above, firstly, as announced on 19 April 2018, shareholders of the Company approved the acquisition of the entire issued capital of O2O Limited. O2O Limited, which has a wholly owned subsidiary in Malaysia, is now developing an e-Marketplace project with both physical stores and online trading platforms (“Project CKB”). Through acquiring Project CKB (which shall be completed by the first quarter of 2020), we envisage that the Group shall be able to diversify its revenue sources by receiving stable rental income from the physical stores as well as service income from the online trading platform for many years to come.
Secondly, on 28 June 2018, our Group completed an acquisition to buy 40% equity interest of PointSoft Limited (“PointSoft”), a company with a focus on developing and managing food and beverage point-of-sales system with a continuous profit-making history. Starting from FY2019, our Group began to share profit from PointSoft, which has since become another stable stream of income.
Apart from unceasing efforts directed at revenue generation and diversification, all our internal rationalisation endeavors as described above also brought in train a downsizing effect, thereby bringing in huge efficiency gain and cost reduction consequences. The number of positions required to perform faster, better, more satisfactory and much enlarged service had decreased from 283 at 31 March 2018 to 187 as at 31 March 2019.
Our turnaround success is therefore the result of revenue generation, cost reduction and diversification, combined.
Looking forward, we will not seat on our laurel, and will continuously to be on the look-out for new ways to improve our brand and positioning. Having rebalanced and re-stabilised our streams of income from maintenance and investment, we are now poised to explore:
(i) internally, opportunities to grow within Hong Kong; and
(ii) externally, opportunities to replicate our proven model to the Belt-and-Road countries.
As for a close, on behalf of the Board, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all our shareholders, investors, business partners, suppliers and customers, for their continuing support to our Group. Last but not least, I would also want to express our sincere thanks to all our staff for their tireless dedication and hard work.
Lee Cheong YuenChairman, Chief Executive Officer and Executive DirectorICO Group Limited
Hong Kong, 27 June 2019
5Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
MANAgEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
of approximately HK$96.9 million (FY2018: loss before taxation
of approximately HK$5.6 million), profit before interests, tax,
depreciation and amortisation of approximately HK$104.7
million (FY2018: loss before interests, tax, depreciation and
amortisation of approximately HK$2.1 million), and profit
attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of
approximately HK$83.9 million (FY2018: loss attribution to
equity shareholders of the Company of approximately HK$11.2
million).
BUSINESS REVIEW AND OUTLOOKProvision of IT application and solution development servicesThis segment provides design and implementation of IT
application solution services and procurement of third party
hardware and software. The revenue generated from provision
of IT application and solution development services amounted
to approximately HK$24.0 million, representing approximately
4% of the revenue for FY2019. The revenue derived from
provision of IT application and solution development services
decreased by approximately 38% from approximately HK$39.0
million for FY2018 to approximately HK$24.0 million for FY2019,
the significant decrease was primarily attributable to: i) the
significant drop of revenue recognised from the Group’s large-
scale projects as the implementation phase of the projects were
substantially completed during FY2018 and according to the
project implementation plans the final implementation phase of
these projects would contribute less revenue than past phases
which were executed in past years; and
ii) following the substantial completion
of the implementation phase of the
Group’s large-scale projects, the Group
is yet to secure another large-scale IT
project that would provide significant
new stream of income to this segment
during FY2019. During FY2019, on one
hand the Group strived to get sizable
projects through competitive tendering
process, on the other hand the Group
also diverted its focus to expand other
lines of business to mitigate the adverse
effects of the temporary lack of projects
for this segment.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in
conjunction with the financial information of the Group
contained in the consolidated financial statements (together
with the notes thereto) reproduced in the result announcement
for the year ended 31 March 2019. The consolidated financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with Hong Kong
Financial Reporting Standards. The following discussions on the
synopsis of historical result do not represent a prediction as to
the future business operations of the Group.
SUMMARYEstablished in 1992, the Group is an IT service provider
based in Hong Kong. The Group is principally engaged in
the following businesses: (i) provision of IT application and
solution development services; (ii) provision of IT infrastructure
solutions; (iii) provision of secondment services; and (iv)
provision of maintenance and support services.
For FY2019, the revenue of the Group was approximately
HK$595.5 million, representing an increase of approximately
HK$185.5 million or 45% as compared to the year ended
31 March 2018 (“FY2018”), the increase was primarily
attributable to a significant increase in revenue derived from
the IT infrastructure solutions segment and the maintenance
and support services segment. Due to the significant increase
in revenue as well as the fair value changes in contingent
consideration payable and derivative component in convertible
bonds, for FY2019, the Group recorded profit before taxation
From left: Mr. Leung Man Lun Walter (Senior Management), Mr. Ko Ka Hay Kenneth (Senior Management), Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer), Mr. Chung Yat Ming (Senior Management) and Mr. Ho Chak Keung (Senior Management)
6 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
MANAgEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Provision of IT infrastructure solutionsThis segment provides IT infrastructure solution services
and sale of IT infrastructure solutions related hardware
and software. The revenue generated from provision of IT
infrastructure solutions accounted for approximately 72%
of the revenue for FY2019. The revenue from provision of IT
infrastructure solutions increased approximately 63% from
approximately HK$262.8 million for FY2018 to approximately
HK$427.0 million for FY2019, the significant increase was
primarily due to i) significant increase in amount of revenue
generated from customers in the construction and financial
sectors due to their business expansion and technological
refreshment and ii) the number of active customers for the
Group increased as a result of the Group’s effort to expand its
sales channel and customer portfolio.
Provision of secondment servicesThis segment provides secondment services for a fixed period
of time pursuant to the secondment service agreements. The
revenue generated from provision of secondment services
amounted to approximately HK$46.1 million, representing
approximately 8% of the revenue for FY2019. Secondment
income is a relatively stable revenue source when compared
with project basis income, during FY2019, the revenue
derived from provision of secondment services decreased by
approximately 4% from approximately HK$47.9 million for
FY2018 to approximately HK$46.1 million for FY2019. The slight
decrease in revenue for this segment for FY2019 was primarily
due to a decrease in demand for services from one of the major
customers in this segment and the revenue of new secondment
contracts awarded to the Group were not enough to offset the
impact for the decrease in demand from the major customer.
Nevertheless, the gross profit and the gross profit margin of this
segment were increased during FY2019, as the new secondment
contracts awarded to the Group during FY2019 had a higher
charge rate than that of FY2018.
Provision of maintenance and support servicesThis segment provides maintenance and support services.
The revenue generated from provision of maintenance and
support services amounted to approximately HK$98.4 million,
representing approximately 16% of the revenue for FY2019. The
revenue derived from provision of maintenance and support
services increased by approximately 63% from approimately
HK$60.3 million for FY2018 to approximately HK$98.4 million
for FY2019, the significant increase was primarily due to the
significant revenue recorded from the maintenance phase of the
Group’s sizable IT Projects which commenced since November
2017 and August 2018 subsequent to the completion of their
implementation phase.
OUTLOOK AND FUTURE PROSPECTSFY2019 was a successful year for the Group, with the significant
increase in revenue derived from provision of IT infrastructure
solutions and provision of maintenance and support services,
the Group recorded a turnaround from net loss to net profit for
FY2019. There are also the following positive signs in relation to
the Group’s future prospects:
Firstly, the maintenance contracts of the Group’s large scale
IT projects which contributed to the significant increase in the
Group’s revenue for the maintenance and support services
segment will last until 2027. These contracts are expected to
contribute a revenue stream of over HK$60 million per year to
the Group, this steady revenue stream will sustain profitability
of the Group as well as provide working capital for the Group to
expand its other lines of business in the future.
Secondly, upon completion of its downsizing exercise in FY2019
the staff cost of the Group decreased by approximately HK$23.9
million in FY2019. The successful downsizing exercise enables
the Group to avoid cost overrun, maintain a sustainable team
size and monitor its cost structure efficiently in the future.
Lastly, Project CKB acquired by the Group shall be completed by
the first quarter of year 2020. Upon its completion, the Group
shall be able to further expand and diversify its revenue sources
by receiving stable rental income from the physical stores as well
as service income from the online trading platform. For details of
the acquisition of Project CKB, please refer to the announcements
and circular of the Company dated 7 December 2017, 8 January
2018, 28 March 2018, 19 April 2018, 5 June 2018, 27 July 2018,
9 November 2018, 15 November 2018, 11 January 2019 and 12
June 2019 (collectively the “Project CKB Announcements and Circular”).
Looking forward, based on the above factors, it is expected the
financial situation of the Group would grow steadily in the
foreseeable future.
7Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
MANAgEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FINANCIAL REVIEWRevenueThe Group’s revenue for FY2019 amounted to approximately
HK$595.5 million, representing an increase of approximately
HK$185.5 million or 45% compared to FY2018 (FY2018:
approximately HK$409.9 million). The increase was mainly
attributable to the increase in revenue generated from the IT
infrastructure solutions segment and the maintenance and
support services segment of approximately HK$164.3 million
and HK$38.1 million respectively, offset by the decrease
in revenue generated from the IT application and solution
development segment and secondement services segment of
approximately HK$15.0 million and HK$1.9 million respectively.
Gross profit and gross profit marginThe gross profit of the Group nearly doubled from
approximately HK$48.7 million for FY2018 to approximately
HK$97.4 million for FY2019, while the gross profit margin
of the Group increased from approximately 12% for FY2018
to approximately 16% for FY2019. During FY2019, the gross
profit generated from IT infrastructure solutions segment and
maintenance and support services segment increased in line
with the increase in revenue for these two segments, while
the gross profit margin for these two segments remained
relatively stable. For the IT application and solution development
segment, the gross profit and the gross profit margin
increased and reverted to a normal level after the successful
downsizing exercise during FY2019 which reduced the team
size of the Group to an optimal and sustainable level. For the
secondment services segment, despite the slight decrease in
revenue, the gross profit and the gross profit margin for this
segment increased slightly due to the increased charge rate for
secondment contracts awarded to the Group during FY2019.
Administrative expensesThe Group’s administrative expenses for FY2019 amounted to
approximately HK$64.2 million, representing an increase by
approximately HK$7.6 million or 13% as compared to FY2018
(FY2018: approximately HK$56.6 million). Such increase was
mainly due to the increase in staff cost of approximately HK$7.3
million attributed to (i) expansion of the Group’s sale team
despite its effort to downsize its technical team so as to expand
its sales channels; (ii) presale and tender bidding activities in
order to secure new projects for the IT application and solution
development segment; and (iii) commission paid to sales staff
which was in line with the increase in revenue of the Group
during FY2019.
Change in fair value of contingent consideration payable and derivative component in convertible bondsContingent consideration payable and derivative component in
convertible bonds were recognised by the Group as a result of
the acquisitions made by the Group during FY2018 and FY2019,
namely acquisition of 15% equity interest of INAX Technology
Limited (“INAX”), 40% equity interest of PointSoft and Project
CKB. According to the relevant accounting standards, these
financial liabilities are required to be remeasured at fair value
at the end of each reporting period with the remeasurement
gain or loss recognised in profit or loss. As a result, with
reference to valuation reports prepared by an independent
professional valuer, valuation gains on these financial liabilities
were determined and recognised during FY2019. Nevertheless,
the valuation gains were merely results of accounting
treatments and do not have any real impacts on the results
of the operations and cash flows of the Group. For details of
the acquisitions made by the Group, please refer to the annual
report of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2018 and
the announcements of the Company dated 10 November 2017,
18 December 2017 and 10 August 2018 (collectively the “INAX Announcements”), the announcements of the Company dated
20 June 2018, 21 June 2018, 28 June 2018 and 4 July 2018
(collectively the “PointSoft Announcements”) and the Project
CKB Announcements and Circular.
Finance costsThe increase in finance costs for FY2019 was solely due to the
imputed interest expenses arising from amortisation of the
liability component in convertible bonds in accordance with the
relevant accounting standards. Such imputed interest expenses
do not have any cash impacts on the Group, disregarding the
imputed interest expenses, the interest expenses arising from
bank loans of the Group decreased by approximately HK$0.3
million for FY2019 as compared to FY2018.
8 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
MANAgEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Income taxAs the valuation gains recognised by the Group are not taxable
and the Group has tax loss brought forward from last year to
offset taxable profit for the current period, the effective interest
rate of the Group for FY2019 was only approximately 4%.
Profit for the yearThe Group recorded a net profit of approximately HK$93.2 million
for FY2019 as compared to a net loss of approximately HK$7.1
million for FY2018. The turnaround recorded by the Group was
mainly attributable to the combined effect of (i) the increase in
gross profit of approximately HK$48.7 million as compared to
FY2018; and (ii) the aggregate gain on changes in fair value of
contingent consideration payable and derivative component of
convertible bonds of approximately HK$67.1 million, offset by the
increase in general and administrative expenses, finance costs and
income tax expenses of approximately HK$7.6 million, HK$4.3
million and HK$2.2 million respectively.
LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL RESOURCESAs at 31 March 2019, the shareholders’ funds of the Group
amounted to approximately HK$327.8 million (2018:
approximately HK$205.9 million). Current assets were
approximately HK$242.4 million (2018: approximately HK$199.0
million), mainly comprised of cash and cash equivalents of
approximately HK$53.0 million (2018: approximately HK$38.3
million), tax recoverable of approximately HK$5.9 million (2018:
approximately HK$6.1 million) and trade and other receivables
and contract assets of approximately HK$180.4 million (2018:
approximately HK$151.4 million). Current liabilities mainly
comprised of trade and other payables and contract liabilities of
approximately HK$104.0 million (2018: approximately HK$62.9
million), bank loans of approximately HK$7.6 million (2018:
approximately HK$22.9 million), contingent consideration
payable of approximately HK$10.7 million (2018: approximately
HK$31.3 million) and derivative component in convertible bonds
of approximately HK$3.0 million (2018: nil). The changes in
current assets and current liabilities of the Group were primarily
due to:
(i) the increase in cash and cash equivalent reflected by the
collection of payments from customers after the payment
milestones of projects-in-progress are reached following
the substantial completion of the Group’s large-scale IT
projects as well as the stable cash inflow from the large
scale maintenance contracts of the Group;
(ii) the increase in the combined amount of trade and other
receivables and contract assets, trade and other payables
and contract liabilities are in line with the increase in
revenue and cost of sales during FY2019;
(iii) the decrease in outstanding bank loan as the Group was
able to maintain sufficient working capital following the
increase in cash and cash equivalent and thus repaid a
significant amount of bank loans during FY2019;
(iv) the creation of derivative component of convertible bonds
following the issue of convertible bonds for Project CKB;
and
(v) the decrease in contingent consideration payable due to
settlements during FY2019.
The outstanding bank loan of HK$7.6 million as at 31 March
2019 will be matured by April 2019 and as at 31 March 2019,
the Group has unutilised bank facilities amounted to HK$22.9
million. The net asset value per share attributable to equity
shareholders of the Company as at 31 March 2019 was
approximately HK$0.070 (2018: approximately HK$0.049). The
Group’s gearing ratio, expressed as a percentage of bank loans
and liability component in convertible bonds over total equity,
was approximately 18% (2018: 11%). As at 31 March 2019, the
liquidity ratio of the Group, determined as a ratio of current
assets over current liabilities, was approximately 2.1 times
(2018: approximately 1.7 times).
CAPITAL STRUCTUREThe share capital of the Company only comprises of ordinary shares.
During FY2019, the Company had the following changes in its share capital:
(i) On 4 July 2018, the Company alloted and issued 172,811,060 new shares in respect of the acquisition of PointSoft pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement dated 20 June 2018;
9Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
MANAgEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
(ii) On 10 August 2018, the Company alloted and issued 218,253,969 new shares in respect of the acquisition of INAX pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement dated 10 November 2017; and
(iii) On 27 August 2018, the Company allotted and issued 87,186,224 new shares upon the conversion of convertible bond issued as deposits for the acquisition of Project CKB pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement dated 6 December 2017.
As at 31 March 2019 and 2018, the Company’s issued share capital was approximately HK$11,741,263 and HK$10,545,635 respectively and the number of its issued ordinary shares was 4,696,505,221 and 4,218,253,968 of HK$0.0025 each respectively.
The Group’s capital is mainly derived from bank loans, net proceeds from placing, long term debt (being convertible bonds) and retained profits of the Group. When managing its capital, the Group’s primary objectives are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can continue to provide returns for equity owners and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital. As at 31 March 2019 and 2018, all outstanding bank loans are denominated in Hong Kong dollars and with a fixed interest rate with reference to HIBOR. The convertible bonds issued by the Company carry no interest.
The Group actively and regularly reviews and manages its capital structure to maintain a balance between the higher shareholder returns that might be possible with higher levels of borrowings and the advantages and security afforded by sound capital position, and makes adjustments to capital structure in light of changes in economic conditions.
COMMITMENTSAs at 31 March 2019, the Group had operating lease commitments in respect of rented office of approximately HK$1,341,000 (2018: approximately HK$2,461,000).
As at 31 March 2019 and 2018 and up to the date of this annual
report, subject to certain conditions, the Group has capital
commitments on its acquisition of Project CKB. For details on
the acquisition, please refer to the Project CKB Announcements
and Circular.
F U T U R E P L A N S F O R M A T E R I A L INVESTMENTS AND CAPITAL ASSETSThe Group from time to time is exploring investment
opportunities that would benefit the shareholders of the
Company as a whole. Except for those disclosed elsewhere in
this annual report, the Group does not have any concrete plans
for material investments and capital assets.
MATERIAL ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSALS OF SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATED COMPANIESDuring FY2019, except for entering into agreement to acquire
40% equity interest of PointSoft, the Group did not have any
material acquisition or disposals of subsidiaries and affiliated
companies during FY2019 and up to the date of this annual
report. For details of the acquisition, please refer to the PointSoft
Announcements.
During FY2018, the Group entered into agreements to acquire
15% equity interest of INAX and 40% equity interest of Project
CKB. For details of the acquisitions, please refer to INAX
Announcements and Project CKB Announcements and Circular.
SIgNIFICANT INVESTMENTS AND CAPITAL ASSETSSignificant investments held as at 31 March 2019
(i) INAX Technology LimitedOn 10 November 2017, the Company entered into a sale and purchase agreement to acquire 15% equity interest in INAX at a cost of HK$66 million, which is a limited company incorporated in Hong Kong which principally engages in IT infrastructure business with a focus on IT ﹠ telecommunication infrastructures and data centre industry. With reference to a valuation report prepared by an independent professional valuer, as at 31 March 2019, the fair value of this investment (recorded as other financial asset in the Group’s consolidated statement of financial position) is approximately HK$37.8 million, represented a discount of approximately 43% to its cost and approximately 7% of the Group’s total asset. During FY2019, no dividend has been received from the investment. For details of the acquisition, please refer to the INAX Announcements.
10 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
MANAgEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Up to the date of this annual report, the management account of INAX (subject to audit) for the year ended 30 April 2019 showed that there is a significant decrease in profit of approximately 47% during FY2019 as compared with last year. Upon enquiry on the management of INAX, the primary reasons for the decrease in profit during FY2019 were (i) due to the pessimistic outlook towards the Sino-US political conflict in this region; and (ii) one of the key management personnel of INAX suffered from adverse physical condition during the year ended 30 April 2019, which had a significant detrimental effect on the daily operation and earning power of INAX. Looking forward, despite the decreased profit of INAX, the Group holds cautiously optimistic view on the prospect of this investment due to (i) according to Cisco Global Cloud Index: Forecast and Methodology, 2016-2021, the total data center workload at Asia Pacific region will increase at a compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of approximately 24%, and the CAGR of global data centre traffic is approximately 25% for the same period, the forecasted growth in data centre workload and data centre traffic provides future growth potential for the business of INAX; and (ii) the potential collaboration and cross-selling opportunities that will be mutually beneficial for both the Group and INAX.
(ii) PointSoft LimitedOn 20 June 2018, the Group entered into a sale and purchase agreement to acquire 40% equity interest in PointSoft at a cost of HK$60 million, which is a limited company incorporated in Hong Kong with its business focus on developing and managing food and beverage point-of-sale system with a continuous profit making history. As at 31 March 2019, the carrying value of this investment (recorded as interests in associates in consolidated statement of financial position) is approximately HK$62.5 million, represents approximately 12% of the Group’s total asset. With reference to a valuation report prepared by an independent professional valuer, the fair value of this investment as at 31 March 2019 is approximately HK$80.2 million. For details of the acquisition, please refer to the PointSoft Announcements.
PointSoft is the market leader of promoting, selling and offering food and beverage point-of-sale system and its existing clients are all first tier restaurant and chain food stores, the market leader status and the strong client base of PointSoft provides a stable profit stream. The Group considers the performance of PointSoft is satisfactory as the management account of PointSoft (subject to audit)
for the year ended 31 March 2019 showed that there are no material deterioration of results and financial position since completion of the acquisition. The Group is optimistic on the future prospect of the investment as it is expected that in the future the Group will benefit from (i) share of the continuous stable profit stream from PointSoft; and (ii) the potential collaboration and cross-selling opportunities that will be mutually beneficial for both the Group and PointSoft.
Significant investment contracted but not yet completed as at 31 March 2019On 6 December 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire the entire issued capital O2O Limited at a cost of RM145 million, which is currently through a subsidiary in Malaysia developing an e-Marketplace project with both physical stores and online trading platforms the Project CKB. The project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of year 2020. As at 31 March 2019, the Group has paid a deposit of approximately HK$117.6 million for the acquisition, which is recorded as deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary in the Group’s consolidated statement of financial position representing approximately 23% of the Group’s total asset. For details of the acquisition, please refer to Project CKB Announcements and Circular.
By acquiring Project CKB, it is expected that the Group shall be able to diversify its revenue sources by receiving stable rental income from the physical stores as well as service income from the online trading platform. Although the property market in Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur has been relatively sluggish in recent years and there is an oversupply issue in certain segments of the property market, the Group expected that the forecasted economic growth in future years shall provide support for the property price and it was a good timing to invest in the project at a relatively low cost. In addition, from two different sources, it is forecasted that the CAGR of revenue in the Malaysia e-commerce market is (i) approximately 11.4% and reach by approximately US$5,776 million by 2023 (Source: statista); and (ii) approximately 24% and reach by approximately US$8,200 million by 2025 (Source: The Hong Kong Trade Development Council), which provides a vast potential market for the online trading platform. Based on the above factors, the Group is optimistic on the future prospect of the investment.
Other investment held as at 31 March 2019In addition to the abovementioned significant investments, as at 31 March 2019, there was an interests in joint ventures recognised in the Group’s consolidated statement of financial position with carrying amount of approximately HK$1.1 million.
11Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
MANAgEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The interests in joint ventures represented 33.3% equity interest in DeepSolutions Limited, which in turn holds 100% equity interest in DeepTranslate Limited (together the “DeepSolutions Group”). As detailed in the announcement of the Company dated 8 August 2018, DeepSolutions Limited and DeepTranslate Limited are limited companies incorporated in Hong Kong established by the Group and other parties pursuant to a joint venture agreement. DeepSolutions Group aims at developing a machine translation system to be used for translation of documents. As the machine translation system is still in the development phase and not yet ready for sale, DeepSolutions Group did not generate any revenue and recorded a net loss of approximately HK$0.7 million during FY2019. As at 31 March 2019, the carrying amount of DeepSolutions Group is approximately HK$1.1 million, represented approximately 0.2% of the Group’s total assets. Since DeepSolutions Group is newly established without any operating history, the fair value of this investment as at 31 March 2019 is difficult to be determined.
Apart from the above, the Group did not acquire or hold any other significant investments during FY2019 and FY2018. In the future, the Group will continue to identify suitable targets for investment that (i) are profitable and have growth potentials that would contribute to the future earnings of the Group; or (ii) provide collaboration and cross-selling opportunities that would be mutually beneficial for both the Group and the targets.
Capital assets held as at 31 March 2019The Group acquired an office premises and a carpark in Kwun Tong during the year ended 31 March 2016 at a consideration of approximately HK$45.3 million and is still holding the office premises and the carpark as up to the date of this annual report. As at 31 March 2019, according to a valuation report issued by an independent professional valuer, the fair value of the office premises and the carpark is approximately HK$59.7 million (as at 31 March 2018: approximately HK$54.8 million).
Apart from the above, the Group did not acquire or hold any other significant capital assets during FY2019 and FY2018.
CONTINgENT LIABILITIESOn 2 October 2018, a performance bond amounted to approximately HK$26.5 million was issued by a bank to a customer of the Group to protect the customer from the Group’s default on its obligation under the contract. Shall the customer demand compensation for the Group’s default under the performance bond, the Group will be liable to reimburse the
bank up to the full amount of the performance bond. Except for the above, the Group had no material contingent liabilities as at 31 March 2019 (2018: Nil).
E X P O S U R E T O E X C H A N g E R A T E FLUCTUATIONFor FY2019 and FY2018, the Group was only exposed to limited currency exchange rate fluctuation risks as virtually all of the Group’s monetary assets and liabilities were denominated in Hong Kong dollars as it conducts its business transactions principally in this currency and the foreign exchange rate fluctuation risk of the consideration payable for acquiring Project CKB is limited under the sale and purchase agreement. The currency exchange rate risk of the Group for FY2019 and FY2018 is therefore considered to be immaterial, and the Group did not engage in any hedging activity.
In the future, the Group will face foreign exchange exposure as the Group would have assets and operations in Malaysia after the completion of Project CKB, as such, the Group will continue to monitor its foreign exchange exposure and will consider hedging significant foreign currency exposure should the need arises.
CHARgE ON THE gROUP’S ASSETSAs at 31 March 2019, except for the pledged bank deposit of approximately HK$3.2 million (2018: approximately HK$3.2 million) in relation to guarantees issued by a bank in respect of the Group’s projects-in-progress and property, plant and equipment with net book value of approximately HK$41.4 million (2018: approximately HK$42.9 million) pledged to a bank for a revolving term loan facility of HK$42.0 million (2018: HK$30.0 million) used to finance the working capital of the Group, there were no charges on the Group’s assets.
EMPLOYEES AND REMUNERATION POLICIESAs at 31 March 2019, the Group employed a total of 187 full-time employees (2018: 283). The staff costs, including Directors’ emoluments, of the Group were approximately HK$117.3 million for FY2019 (2018: approximately HK$141.2 million). Remuneration is determined with reference to market terms and the performance, qualification and experience of individual employee. In addition to a basic salary, year-end discretionary bonuses were offered to those staff with outstanding performance to attract and retain eligible employees to contribute to the Group.
12 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
MANAgEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
COMPARISON OF BUSINESS OBJECTIVES WITH ACTUAL BUSINESS PROgRESS AND USE OF PROCEEDSAs at 31 March 2019, the business objectives as set out in the prospectus of the Company dated 10 March 2015 have been achieved and the corresponding net proceeds allocated to the business objectives have been fully utilised, except for the followings:
Business objectives Actual progress
Strategic growth through merger, acquisition or business collaboration
During FY2019 and FY2018, the Group entered into agreements to acquire 15% equity interest of INAX, 40% equity interest of PointSoft and Project CKB. For details of the acquisitions, please refer to the INAX Announcements, the PointSoft Announcements and the Project CKB Announcements and Circular. The unutilised amount of net proceeds allocated to this business objective is approximately HK$4.1 million. The Group will attempt to identify suitable targets from time to time in the future.
Expansion of IT application and solution development
business
As at 31 March 2019, approximately HK$3.2 million of the net
proceeds from placing was pledged to a bank for performance
guarantees issued by the bank in respect of IT application and
solution development projects-in-progress and during FY2019,
approximately HK$2.2 million of the net proceeds had been used
for tender bidding, presale and business development activities.
Thus, the amount of net proceeds allocated to this business
objective was fully utilised during FY2019.
The Directors will constantly evaluate the Group’s business objectives and may change or modify plans against the changing market
condition to attain sustainable business growth of the Group.
13Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE PRACTICESThe Board recognised that transparency and accountability is important to a listed company. Therefore, the Company is committed
to establish and maintain good corporate governance practices and procedures. The Directors believe that good corporate
governance provides a framework that is essential for effective management, successful business growth and a healthy corporate
culture which would benefit the Company’s stakeholders as a whole.
The Board has adopted and complied with the Corporate Governance Code (the “CG Code”) as set out in Appendix 14 to the Rules
Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Listing Rules”). The Board will continue to
review its corporate governance practices in order to enhance its corporate governance standard, to comply with the increasingly
tightened regulatory requirements from time to time, and to meet the rising expectation of shareholders and other stakeholders of
the Company.
The Board is pleased to report compliance with the code provisions of the CG Code for the year ended 31 March 2019, except where
otherwise stated.
DIRECTORS’ SECURITIES TRANSACTIONSThe Company has adopted the code of conduct regarding Directors’ securities transactions as set out in the Model Code for
Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Issuers (the “Model Code”) as set out in Appendix 10 of the Listing Rules. In response to
a specific enquiry by the Company, all Directors confirmed that they have complied with the Model Code throughout the year ended
31 March 2019.
BOARD OF DIRECTORSAs at 31 March 2019, the Board comprised two executive directors, two non-executive directors and three independent non-
executive directors. The composition of the Board during the year ended 31 March 2019 and up to the date of this report was as
follows:
Executive directors:Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen
Mr. Chan Kwok Pui (redesignated from Non-executive Directors to Executive Director on 22 February 2019)
Mr. Pang Yick Him (resigned on 22 February 2019)
Non-executive directors:Mr. Tam Kwok Wah
Ms. Tuon Wai Man (appointed on 22 February 2019)
Independent non-executive directors:Dr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce
Mr. Fong Sing Chak Jack (appointed on 1 September 2018)
Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret
Dr. Chan Mee Yee (resigned on 13 July 2018)
14 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARDThe overall management of the Company’s business is vested in the Board which assumes the responsibility for leadership and
control of the Company and is collectively responsible for promoting the success of the Company by directing and supervising its
affairs. All Directors should make decisions objectively in the interests of the Company. The Board has the full support from the
executive Directors and the senior management of the Company to discharge its responsibilities.
The day-to-day management, administration and operation of the Company are delegated to the executive Directors and the senior
management of the Company. The delegated functions and work tasks are periodically reviewed. Approval has to be obtained
from the Board prior to any significant transactions entered into by the executive Directors and senior management. The Board
also assumes the responsibilities of maintaining high standard of corporate governance, including, among others, developing and
reviewing the Company’s policies and practices on corporate governance, reviewing and monitoring the Company’s policies and
practices on compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and reviewing the Company’s compliance with the CG Code. All
Directors, including independent non-executive Directors, have brought a wide spectrum of valuable business experience, knowledge
and professionalism to the Board for its efficient and effective delivery of the Board functions. Independent non-executive Directors
are invited to serve on the audit committee, the remuneration committee and the nomination committee of the Company.
The biographical details of the Directors and other senior management are set out in the section headed “Biographical Details of Directors and Senior Management” on pages from 34 to 36 of this annual report.
Save as disclosed above, the Board members have no financial, business, family or other material or relevant relationships with each
other.
CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERCode provision A.2.1 of the CG Code requires that the roles of chairman (the “Chairman”) and chief executive officer (the “Chief Executive Officer”) should be separated and not performed by the same individual. As Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen is currently the
Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, there will be a deviation from the code provision A.2.1.
The Board believes that with the support of the management, vesting the roles of both the Chairman and the Chief Executive
Officer by the same person can maintain the continuity of the policies and the stability of the operations of the Company. The
Board considers that the appointment of Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen as the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer will not impair the
balance of power as all major decisions are made in consultation with members of the Board and with the supervision of the three
independent non-executive Directors, the interests of the shareholders of the Company will be adequately and fairly represented.
Nevertheless, the Company will continue to review its operation and seek to re-comply with the code provision A.2.1 of the Code by
splitting the roles of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer at a time when it is appropriate to increase the independence of
corporate governance of the Group.
Code provision A.2.7 of the CG Code requires the chairman of the board to hold meetings at least annually with the independent
non-executive directors without the presence of other directors. As Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen, the chairman of the Board, is also an
executive Director, the Company has deviated from this code provision as it is not practicable.
15Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
BOARD DIVERSITY POLICYThe Company adopted a board diversity policy (the “Board Diversity Policy”) For the year ended 31 March 2019 and up to the date
of this report. A summary of this Board Diversity Policy, together with the measurable objectives set for implementing this Board
Diversity Policy, and the progress made towards achieving those objectives are disclosed as below.
Summary of the Board Diversity PolicyThe Company recognised and embraced the benefits of having a diverse board to the quality of its performance. The Board Diversity
Policy aimed to set out the approach to achieve diversity on the Board. In designing the Board’s composition, board diversity has
been considered from a number of measurable aspects including gender, age, ethnicity, knowledge and length of services. All Board
appointments will be based on meritocracy, and candidates will be considered against objective criteria, having due regards for the
benefits of diversity on the Board.
Measurable ObjectivesSelection of candidates will be based on a range of diversified perspectives, including but not limited to gender, age, cultural and
educational background, ethnicity, professional experience, skills, knowledge and length of services. The ultimate decision will be
based on merit and contribution that the selected candidates will bring to the Board.
Implementation and MonitoringThe nomination committee of the Company reviewed the Board’s composition under diversified perspectives, and monitored the
implementation of the Board Diversity Policy annually.
The nomination committee of the Company has reviewed the Board Diversity Policy to ensure its effectiveness and considered that
the Group complied the Board Diversity Policy For the year ended 31 March 2019 and up to the date of this report.
BOARD MEETINg, gENERAL MEETINg AND PROCEDURESBoard meetings involve the active participation, either in person or through other electronic means of communication, the Directors
discuss and formulate the overall strategies of the Group, monitor financial performance and discuss the annual and interim results,
as well as discuss and decide on other significant matters.
The company secretary of the Company (the “Company Secretary”) assists in preparing the meeting agenda, and each Director may
request the inclusion of items in the agenda. At least 14 days’ notice of regular Board meetings is given to all Directors and they can
include matters for discussion in the agenda as they think fit. The agenda accompanying Board papers are sent to all the Directors at
least three days before the date of every Board meeting in order to allow sufficient time for the Directors to review the documents.
All minutes of the Board meetings are recorded in detail and are properly kept by the Company Secretary, which are available for
inspection at any reasonable time on reasonable notice by any Director.
16 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
Participation of individual Directors at Board meetings for the year ended 31 March 2019 is as follows:
Number of attendance/Name of Directors number of Board meetings
Number of meetings 10
Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen 10/10
Mr. Pang Yick Him (resigned on 22 February 2019)* 10/10
Mr. Chan Kwok Pui 10/10
Mr. Tam Kwok Wah 9/10
Ms. Tuon Wai Man (appointed on 22 February 2019)* 0/0
Dr. Chan Mee Yee (resigned on 13 July 2018)* 2/3
Dr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce 10/10
Mr. Fong Sing Chak Jack (appointed on 1 September 2018)* 5/5
Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret 9/10
* Only the meeting held during his/her tenure is counted
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE FUNCTIONSNo corporate governance committee has been established and the Board is responsible for performing the corporate governance
functions such as developing, reviewing and monitoring the Company’s policies and practices on corporate governance, training and
continuous professional development of the Directors and senior management, the Company’s policies and practices on compliance
with legal and regulatory requirements, the code of conduct applicable to employees and Directors and the Company’s Compliance
with the CG Code and disclosure in this report. The Board held meetings from time to time whenever necessary. At least 14 days’
notice of regular Board meetings is given to all Directors and they can include matters for discussion in the agenda as they think fit.
The agenda accompanying Board papers are sent to all Directors at least three days before the date of every Board meeting in order
to allow sufficient time for the Directors to review the documents.
Minutes of every Board meeting are circulated to all Directors for their perusal and comments prior to confirmation of the minutes.
The Board also ensures that it is supplied in a timely manner with all necessary information in a form and of a quality appropriate to
enable it to discharge its duties.
Every Board member has full access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary with a view to ensuring that Board
procedures, and all applicable rules and regulations are followed and they are also entitled to have full access to Board papers and
related materials so that they are able to make an informed decision and to discharge their duties and responsibilities.
17Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
APPOINTMENT AND RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORSThe current articles of association of the Company (the “Articles”) provide that subject to the manner of retirement by rotation of
directors as from time to time prescribed by the Listing Rules, at each annual general meeting, one-third of the Directors for the time
being shall retire from office by rotation and that every Director shall be subjected to retirement by rotation at least once every three
years.
Independent non-executive Directors are appointed for a specific term subject to retirement by rotation and re-election in
accordance with the Articles. Each independent non-executive Director is required to inform the Company as soon as practicable if
there are any changes that may affect his/her independence. The Company has received from each of the independent non-executive
Director an annual confirmation of his/her independency pursuant to Rule 3.13 of the Listing Rules and the Company considers the
independent non-executive Directors to be independent.
CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTTo assist Directors’ continuous professional development, the Company recommends Directors to participate in continuous
professional development programmes such as external seminars organised by qualified professionals, to develop and refresh their
knowledge and skills in relation to their contribution to the Board. All newly appointed Directors will receive an induction package
covering the summary of the responsibilities and liabilities of a director of a Hong Kong listed company, the Group’s business and
the statutory regulatory obligations of a director of a Hong Kong listed company to ensure that the newly appointed Directors are
sufficiently aware of their responsibilities and obligations under the Listing Rules and other regulatory requirements.
All Directors understand the importance of continuous professional development and are committed to participate in any suitable
training to develop and refresh their knowledge and skills.
Pursuant to the code provision A.6.5 of the CG Code, all Directors participated in continuous professional development in the
following manner:
Training on corporate governance, regulatory development and other relevant topics by attending seminarsName of Directors or reading articles and publications
Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen ✓
Mr. Chan Kwok Pui ✓
Mr. Pang Yick Him (resigned on 22 February 2019) ✓
Mr. Tam Kwok Wah ✓
Ms. Tuon Wai Man (appointed on 22 February 2019) ✓
Dr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce ✓
Mr. Fong Sing Chak Jack (appointed on 1 September 2018) ✓
Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret ✓
Dr. Chan Mee Yee (resigned on 13 July 2018) ✓
18 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
BOARD COMMITTEESThe Board has established three board committees, namely the audit committee (the “Audit Committee”), the remuneration
committee (the “Remuneration Committee”) and the nomination committee (the “Nomination Committee”), with written terms of
reference which are available on the Company’s website and the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Stock Exchange”).
The attendance record of each member of the Audit Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee For
the year ended 31 March 2019 is as follows:
Number of attendance/number of meetings Audit Remuneration NominationName of Directors Committee Committee Committee
Number of meetings 2 2 4
Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen N/A N/A 4/4
Mr. Pang Yick Him (resigned on 22 February 2019)* N/A N/A 4/4
Mr. Chan Kwok Pui (redesignated from Non-executive Director
to Executive Director on 22 February 2019)* N/A N/A 0/0
Dr. Chan Mee Yee (resigned on 13 July 2018)* 1/1 0/0 2/2
Dr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce 2/2 2/2 4/4
Mr. Fong Sing Chak Jack (appointed on 1 September 2018)* 1/1 1/1 1/1
Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret 2/2 2/2 4/4
* Only the meeting held during his/her tenure is counted
AUDIT COMMITTEEThe Company has established the Audit Committee with written terms of reference in compliance with the Listing Rules, in
accordance with provisions set out in the CG Code which are available on the Company’s website and the Stock Exchange’s website.
The Audit Committee currently consists of three independent non-executive Directors namely Dr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce, Mr.
Fong Sing Chak Jack and Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret. The chairlady of the Audit Committee is Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret, who has
appropriate professional qualifications and experience in accounting matters.
The Audit Committee is mainly responsible for the followings:
(a) to consider the appointment of the external auditors, the performance of the external auditors, the audit fee, and any
questions of resignation or dismissal;
(b) to review with the Group’s management, external auditors and internal auditors, the adequacy of the Group’s policies and
procedures regarding internal controls (including financial, operational and compliance controls), risk management system and
any statement by the Directors to be included in the annual accounts prior to endorsement by the Board;
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CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
(c) to have familiarity with the financial reporting principles and practices applied by the Group in preparing its financial
statements;
(d) to review the scope of the external audit, including the engagement letter prior to audit commencement. The Audit Committee
should understand the factors considered by the external auditors in determining their audit scope. The external audit fees are
to be negotiated by management, and presented to the Audit Committee for review and approval annually;
(e) to review the annual and interim financial reports prior to approval by the Board, with particular focus on:
(i) any changes in accounting policies and practices;
(ii) major judgmental areas;
(iii) significant adjustments resulting from the audit;
(iv) the going concern assumption and any qualifications;
(v) compliance with accounting and auditing standards, and
(vi) compliance with the listing requirements of the Stock Exchange and legal requirements;
For the year ended 31 March 2019, the Audit Committee held two meetings to consider and approve the following:
(a) to review the interim and annual financial statements before submission to the Board, with a focus on compliance with
accounting standards, the Listing Rules and other requirements in relation to financial reporting of the Group;
(b) to discuss the effectiveness of the internal control systems throughout the Group, including financial, operational and
compliance controls, and risk management;
(c) to review the accounting principles and practices adopted by the Group and other financial reporting matters; and
(d) to address the audit issues raised by the external auditors of the Group.
The audited consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 March 2019 have been reviewed by the Audit
Committee, which was of the opinion that the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in compliance with the
applicable accounting standards and Listing Rules.
There was no disagreement between the Board and the Audit Committee on the selection and appointment of the external auditors
during the year ended 31 March 2019.
20 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
REMUNERATION COMMITTEEThe Company has established the Remuneration Committee and is currently comprising three independent non-executive Directors,
namely Dr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce, Mr. Fong Sing Chak Jack and Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret. Mr. Fong Sing Chak Jack is the chairman
of the Remuneration Committee. The terms of reference of the Remuneration Committee are available at the Company’s website and
on the Stock Exchange’s website.
The main roles and functions of the Remuneration Committee include the followings:
(a) establish guidelines for the remuneration of the Directors and senior management;
(b) recommend to the Board the policy and structure for the remuneration of Directors and senior management whilst ensuring
no Director or any of his/her associates are involved in deciding his/her own remuneration;
(c) determine the remuneration of Directors and senior management, including benefits in kind, pension right, compensation
payment (including compensation for loss of office or appointment etc). The Director and/or senior management shall be
consulted respectively about their proposals relating to the remuneration of the Director and/or senior management, as the
case may be;
(d) review and approve the compensation arrangements in connection with any loss or termination of their office or appointment,
or dismissal or removal for misconduct to executive Directors and senior management which shall be fair and not excessive;
(e) determine the criteria for assessing employee performance, which should reflect the Company’s business objectives and
targets; and
(f) consider the annual performance bonus for executive Directors, senior management, and the general staff, having regard to
the achievements against the performance criteria by reference to market norms, and make recommendation to the Board.
The emolument payable to Directors depends on their respective contractual terms under the service contracts and the appointment
letters, and as recommended by the Remuneration Committee. Details of the Directors’ emolument are set out in note 9 to the
consolidated financial statements.
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CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
NOMINATION COMMITTEEThe Company has established the Nomination Committee and is currently comprising two executive Directors, namely Mr. Lee
Cheong Yuen and Mr. Chan Kwok Pui and three independent non-executive Directors, namely Dr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce, Mr. Fong
Sing Chak Jack and Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret. Dr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce is the chairman of the Nomination Committee. The terms
of reference of the Nomination Committee are available at the Company’s website and on the Stock Exchange’s website.
The main roles and functions of the Nomination Committee include the followings:
(a) review and monitor the structure, size and composition (including the skills, knowledge and experience) of the Board to
complement the Company’s corporate strategy;
(b) develop and formulate relevant procedures for nomination and appointment of directors;
(c) identify and nominate qualified individuals by making reference to that person’s skills, qualification and expected contribution
to the Company before recommending for appointment as additional directors or to fill Board vacancies as and when they
arise;
(d) make recommendations to the Board on matters relating to the appointment or reappointment of Directors and succession
planning for Directors;
(e) assess the independence of independent non-executive Directors and review the independent non-executive Directors’ annual
confirmations on their independence; and make disclosure of its review results in the corporate governance report; and
(f) report to the Board on decisions or recommendations made, unless there are legal or regulatory restrictions not to do so.
NOMINATION POLICYThe Board has adopted a nomination policy (the “Nomination Policy”) which sets out the selection criteria and nomination
procedures to identify, select and recommend candidates for Directors.
Selection CriteriaWhen evaluating and selecting candidates for directorships, the members of the Nomination Committee or the Board shall consider
the following criteria:
(a) Character and integrity;
(b) Qualifications including professional qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience that are relevant to the Company’s
business and corporate strategies;
(c) The Board Diversity Policy and any measurable objectives adopted by the Nomination Committee for achieving diversity on the
Board;
(d) Willingness to devote adequate time to discharge duties as a Board member and other directorships and significant
commitments;
22 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
(e) In case of independent non-executive Directors, whether the candidates would be considered independent in accordance with
the Listing Rules;
(f) In case of re-election, the overall contribution and service to the Company of the Director to be reelected and the level of
participation and performance on the Board and the other criteria set out in this section; and
(g) Such other perspectives appropriate to the Company’s business.
These factors are for reference only, and not meant to be exhaustive and decisive. The Nomination Committee has the discretion to
nominate any person, as it considers appropriate.
Nomination Procedures(a) The Nomination Committee and/or the Board identifies potential candidates including but not limited to internal promotion,
re-designation, referral by other member of the management and external recruitment agencies and/or advisors. The
Nomination Committee then develops a short list of candidates and agrees on proposed candidate(s);
(b) Proposed candidate(s) will be asked to submit the necessary personal information, biographical details, together with their
written consent to be appointed as a director. The Nomination Committee may request candidates to provide additional
information and documents, if considered necessary;
(c) The Nomination Committee shall, upon receipt of the proposal on appointment of new director and the personal information
(or relevant details) of the proposed candidate(s), evaluate such candidate(s) based on the criteria as set out above to
determine whether such candidate(s) is qualified for directorship;
(d) For any person that is nominated by a shareholder for election as a Director at the general meeting of the Company, the
Nomination Committee shall evaluate such candidate based on the criteria as set out above to determine whether such
candidate is qualified for directorship;
(e) If the process yields one or more desirable candidates, the Nomination Committee shall rank them by order of preference
based on the needs of the Company and reference check of each candidate (where applicable);
(f) The secretary of the Nomination Committee shall convene a meeting of the Nomination Committee. For filling a casual
vacancy, the Nomination Committee shall make recommendations for the Board’s consideration and approval. For proposing
candidates to stand for re-election or election at a general meeting, the Nomination Committee shall make nominations or
recommendations for the Board’s consideration and the Board shall make recommendations to shareholders in respect of the
proposed re-election or election of Director(s) at the general meeting;
(g) In order to provide information of the candidates nominated by the Board to stand for election or re-election at a general
meeting, a circular will be sent to shareholders. The circular will set out the names, brief biographies (including qualifications
and relevant experience), independence, proposed remuneration and any other information, as required pursuant to the
applicable laws, rules and regulations including the Listing Rules, of the proposed candidates; and
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CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
(h) The Board shall have the final decision on all matters relating to its recommendation of candidates to stand for election or re-
election at any general meeting.
Monitor and ReviewThe Nomination Committee will monitor the implementation of the Nomination Policy and report to the Board when necessary. Also,
the Nomination Committee will review the Nomination Policy, as appropriate, to ensure the effectiveness of the Nomination Policy
and will discuss any revisions that may be required, and recommend any such revisions to the Board for consideration and approval.
DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSThe Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for preparing the financial statements of the Group that gives a true and fair view
of the state of affairs of the Group. The Directors aim to present a balanced and understandable assessment of the Group’s position
and prospects with timely publication of the financial statements of the Group. As at 31 March 2019, the Board was not aware of
any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that might cast significant doubt upon the Group’s ability to continue as a
going concern.
The responsibility of the external auditors is to form an independent opinion, based on their audit, on those consolidated financial
statements prepared by the Board and to report their opinion to the shareholders of the Company. The statements by external
auditors, Crowe (HK) CPA Limited, about their reporting responsibility on the financial statements of the Group are set out in the
independent auditor’s report from pages 49 to 54 of this annual report.
24 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
INTERNAL CONTROL AND RISK MANAgEMENTThe Board oversees the risk management and internal control framework and has overall responsibility for the establishment,
maintenance and review of the Group’s risk management and internal control system to manage risks and safeguard shareholder
investments and the assets of the Group. The internal control system of the Group aims to facilitate effective and efficient operation
which in turn minimises the risks to which the Group is exposed. The system can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance
against misstatement or losses.
The objective of the Group’s risk management framework is to provide a clear governance structure and procedures in managing
risks across business operations. The Board has evaluated the risks that the Group may expose to when achieving the Group’s
strategic objectives and has overseen the management in the design, implementation and monitoring of the risk management
procedures.
The Group has adopted risk management procedures to identify, evaluate and manage significant risks. At least on an annual
basis, the Board conducts a risk assessment and continuous review to determine the status of monitoring and effectiveness of
risk management of the Company. The Board also conducts annual review of the implemented system and procedures, covering
financial, operational and legal compliance controls and risk management functions. The Directors consider that the Group has
implemented effective and adequate procedures to safeguard the Group’s assets against unauthorised use or misappropriation,
maintain proper accounting records, and executed with appropriate authority and compliance of the relevant laws and regulations.
The Board and the senior management of the Group adopted the following main procedures to monitor the effectiveness of the
Group’s risk management and internal control functions:
– Organise work meetings to determine the Group’s risk appetite and the overall risk management and internal control
framework;
– Establish internal control and risk management procedures to define the responsibilities of monitoring levels within the Group;
– Conduct risk identification and evaluation based on various factors and review the operational process to ensure appropriate
operation workflows and controls are in place to mitigate significant risks;
– Review and monitor internal control deficiencies, if any, and ensure the delegated risk owners have taken remediation actions
promptly by tracking the status of actions completion; and
– Promote the norms of internal control amongst staff and enhance staff awareness of the importance and necessity of internal
control system.
The Group also has internal guidelines in place to ensure inside information is disseminated to the public in accordance with the
applicable laws and regulations. Executive Directors and financial function of the Group are delegated with responsibilities to control
and monitor the proper procedures regarding inside information disclosures. To prevent possible mishandling of inside information
within the Group, access to inside information is restricted only to relevant senior personnel and other professional parties involved
and they are constantly reminded to preserve confidentially of the inside information until it is publicly disclosed.
25Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
In addition to the above policies and procedures, the Group has engaged external professional service firm to perform internal
audit function and conduct independent risk management and internal control review. The professional service firm reports their
findings to the Board annually via face-to-face meetings and written reports that highlights key risks and action plans. Deficiencies
in the design and implementation of internal controls, if any, are identified and recommendations are proposed for improvement.
Significant internal control deficiencies are reported to the Audit Committee and the Board on a timely basis. For the year ended
31 March 2019, with reference to the reports provided by the professional service firm, the Board concluded that there were no
significant control failings or weaknesses identified and the Group’s processes for financial reporting and Listing Rules compliance
are effective.
DIVIDEND POLICYThe Company adopts a dividend policy which intends to balance the return to the shareholders of the Company and the need for
long-term sustainable development of the Group. In recommending or declaring dividends, the Company shall maintain adequate
cash reserves for meeting its working capital requirements and needs for future growth as well as its shareholder value in the long-
run. The amount of dividends (if any) that may be declared and distributed to the shareholders of the Company is subject to the
discretion of the Board, the constitution of the Company and all applicable laws and regulations and other factors. The Board shall
also take into account various factors of the Group when considering the declaration and payment of dividends. The Board will
review the dividend policy as appropriate from time to time. For FY2019, no dividend is recommended by the Board as the Group
needs to reserve working capital for its business development and settle the consideration payable in relation to acquisition of
Project CKB in the future.
AUDITOR’S REMUNERATIONThe amount of fees charged by the external auditors generally depends on the scope and volume of the external auditors’ work
performed.
For the year ended 31 March 2019, the remuneration paid or payable to the external auditors of the Company in respect of audit
services and non-audit services for the Group are as follows:
Fees paid/payable for the services rendered HK$’000
Audit services 750
Non-audit services 90
COMPANY SECRETARYMr. Pun Shing Cheung is the Company Secretary and has taken no less than 15 hours of relevant professional training for the year
ended 31 March 2019.
SHAREHOLDERS’ RIgHTSAs one of the measures to safeguard shareholders’ interest and rights, separate resolutions can be proposed at shareholders’
meetings on each substantial issue, including the election of individual directors, for shareholders’ consideration and voting. All
resolutions put forward at shareholders’ meeting will be voted by poll pursuant to the Listing Rules and the poll voting results will be
posted on the Stock Exchange’s website and the Company’s website after the relevant shareholders’ meeting.
26 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
PROCEDURES FOR SHAREHOLDERS TO CONVENE EXTRAORDINARY gENERAL MEETINgThe following procedures for shareholders to convene an extraordinary general meeting are subject to the Articles (as amended from
time to time), and the applicable legislation and regulation, in particular the Listing Rules (as amended from time to time):
(a) any one or more shareholders holding at the date of deposit of the requisition not less than one-tenth of the paid up capital
of the Company (the “Eligible Shareholder(s)”) carrying the right of voting at general meetings of the Company shall at all
times have the right, by written requisition to the Board or the Company Secretary to require an extraordinary general meeting
(“EGM”) to be called by the Board for the transaction of any business specified in such requisition;
(b) Eligible Shareholders who wish to convene an EGM must deposit a written requisition (the “Requisition”) signed by the Eligible
Shareholder(s) concerned to the head office and principal place of business of the Company in Hong Kong at Office A, 25th
Floor, TG Place, No. 10 Shing Yip Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong, or Hong Kong branch share registrar and transfer office of the
Company, Union Registrars Limited, Suites 3301-04, 33/F., Two Chinachem Exchange Square, 338 King’s Road, North Point,
Hong Kong for the attention of the Board and/or the Company Secretary;
(c) the Requisition must state clearly the name of the Eligible Shareholder(s) concerned, his/her/their shareholding, the reason(s)
to convene an EGM and the details of the business(es) proposed to be transacted in the EGM, and must be signed by the
Eligible Shareholder(s) concerned together with a deposit of a sum of money reasonable sufficient to meet the Company’s
expenses in serving the notice of the resolution and circulating the statement submitted by the shareholders concerned in
accordance with the statutory requirements to all the registered shareholders;
(d) the Requisition will be verified with Hong Kong branch share registrar and transfer office of the Company and upon their
confirmation that the Requisition is proper and in order, the Board will convene an EGM by serving sufficient notice in
accordance with the requirements under the Articles to all the registered Shareholders. On the contrary, if the Requisition has
been verified as not in order or the Shareholders concerned have failed to deposit sufficient money to meet the Company’s
expenses for the said purposes, the Eligible Shareholder(s) concerned will be advised of this outcome and accordingly, the
Board will not call for an EGM;
(e) if within 21 days of the deposit of the Requisition, the Board fails to proceed to convene such EGM, the Eligible Shareholder(s)
himself/herself/themselves may do so, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the Eligible Shareholder(s) concerned as a result
of the failure of the Board shall be reimbursed to the Eligible Shareholder(s) concerned by the Company.
PROCEDURES FOR SHAREHOLDERS TO PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS AT SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETINgSThere are no provisions allowing shareholders to move new resolutions at the general meetings under the Companies Law (Revised)
of Cayman Islands. However, pursuant to the Articles, shareholders who wish to move a resolution may by means of Requisition
convene an EGM following the procedures set out above.
27Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
CORPORATE gOVERNANCE REPORT
PROCEDURES FOR RAISINg ENQUIRIESShareholders should direct their questions about their shareholdings, share transfer, registration and payment of dividend to the
Company’s Hong Kong share registrar (details of which are set out in the section headed “Corporate Information” of this annual
report).
Should there are any enquiries and concerns from shareholders, they may send in written enquiries addressed to the head office and
principal place of business of the Company in Hong Kong at Office A, 25th Floor, TG Place, No. 10 Shing Yip Street, Kowloon, Hong
Kong by post for the attention of the Board and/or the Company Secretary.
Shareholders are reminded to lodge their questions together with their detailed contact information for the prompt response from
the Company if it deems appropriate.
INVESTORS RELATIONSThe Company has established a range of communication channels between itself and its shareholders, and investors. These include
answering questions through the annual general meeting, the publication of annual and interim reports, notices, announcements
and circulars, the Company’s website at www.ico.com.hk and meetings with investors and shareholders. News update of the Group’s
business development and operation are also available on the Company’s website.
For the year ended 31 March 2019, there had been no significant change in the Company’s constitutional documents.
28 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND gOVERNANCE REPORT
This Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) report for the Group highlights its ESG performance with disclosure reference made to the ESG reporting principles as set out in Appendix 27 of the Listing Rules.
This ESG report covers the Group’s overall performance in two subject areas, namely Environmental and Social for the business operations of all entities comprising the Group which operated in two office premises in Hong Kong during the year ended 31 March 2019. As for the information on corporate governance of the Group, please refer to the “Corporate Governance Report” on pages 13 to 27 of this annual report.
STAKEHOLDER ENgAgEMENT AND MATERIALITY ASSESSMENTWe recognise the importance of comprehensive and effective stakeholders engagement in achieving sustainable development of the
Group. We strive to maintain appropriate communication with our stakeholders to understand their concerns and interests towards
our operations and sustainability performances. Stakeholders engagement provides valuable insights on our strategic development,
and fosters informed decision-making, which are beneficial to our management. The following are the main categories of
stakeholders and communication channels:
Stakeholders Communication Channels
Shareholders • Company website • Interim and annual reports • Announcements and circulars • General meetings
Employees • Staff communication • Regular meetings/training courses • Performance appraisals
Customers • Daily operation/communication • Meetings/visits
Suppliers • Daily operation/communication • Regular review and evaluation
Government and • Regular performance reports regulatory authorities • Occasional face-to-face meetings and visits • Correspondence
Community • Public welfare/community activities • Online media
29Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND gOVERNANCE REPORT
SECTION A. ENVIRONMENTALThe Group is principally engaged in provision of IT solutions and services which does not involve in direct emission of significant levels of polluted air, discharge of pollutants into water and land, and generation of hazardous as well as non-hazardous waste. As a result, no laws and regulations relating to air and greenhouse gas emissions, discharges into water and land, and generation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste have significant impact on the Group. Nevertheless, the operation of the Group involves indirect emission of greenhouse gases which primarily caused by use of electricity, paper and business air travel. Apart from electricity and water, the Group does not use other forms of energy and natural resources for its operation and its operations do not have direct significant impact on the environment.
During the year ended 31 March 2019, the quantitive information in relation to greenhouse gases emission of the Group is as follows:
2019 2018Greenhouse Gases Emissions tonnes tonnes
Indirect Emission (Scope 2)Electricity 106 138Indirect Emission (Scope 3)Paper Consumption 2 3Business air travel 5 7
Total emission of greenhouse gases 113 148Total emission of greenhouse gases per square metre of floor area 0.12 0.15
During the year ended 31 March 2019, the total energy consumption of the Group in terms of electricity is as follows:
Energy Consumption 2019 2018
Energy consumption – electricity (kwh) 207,589 218,373Energy consumption – electricity per floor area (kwh/m2) 216 228
During the year ended 31 March 2019, the total water consumption of the Group is as follows:
Water Consumption 2019 2018
Water consumption (m3) 64 64Water consumption per floor area (m3/m2) 0.07 0.07
Energy ConsumptionThe decreased electricity consumption were mainly due to (i) after the downsizing exercise during FY2019, the number of staff decreased from 283 at 31 March 2018 to 187 as at 31 March 2019, which in turn led to the decrease in the use of electricity of the Group; and (ii) the effort taken by the Group in order to increase the environmental awareness to the staff.
30 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND gOVERNANCE REPORT
In the future, in order to further reduce emission of greenhouse gases and electricity consumption, the Group will continue to implement energy saving measures. Staff of the Group are required to turn on power saving mode for computers, printers and monitors to reduce energy consumption when the machines are in idle and to switch off lights, printers, air conditioners and power of computers by the end of the working day. By adopting these policies, the Group wishes to create an environmental friendly working environment.
Water Consumption For the drinking water consumed during FY2019, the water purifier was used to process tap water in one of the office premises, while distilled water was ordered from suppliers in another office premise, which remain in similar level when compared with FY2018. Apart from drinking water, the Group used minimal water for its daily operations only for cleaning purpose. Notices are posted in office premises to remind staff to turn off water taps after use and use water wisely.
Paper ConsumptionDespite the reduced greenhouse gases emission arose from paper consumption, the Group will continue to promote reduction of paper printing and encourage the use of electronic communication. Single-sided papers are reused as scrap papers or used for printing internal documents. Electronic leave application system is used instead of leave approval records in paper form. Notices are posted in office premises to remind staff to use paper wisely so as to reduce damages to the environment. The Group does not use any packaging materials for its operations.
Business Air TravelBusiness air travel is unavoidable as the Group is seeking to expand its business beyond Hong Kong. Nevertheless, the staff of the Group travelled only when necessary and were travelled in economy class in order to reduce greenhouse gases emissions.
SECTION B. SOCIAL
B1: EmploymentThe Group has employment policies governing the recruitment, compensation, promotion, dismissal, leave entitlements
and other benefits and welfare. Terms
of employment and benefits are communicated to staff in the staff handbook. The Group is committed to create a working environment with equal opportunity and diversity. All staff are assessed based on their performance without discrimination against age, sex, pregnancy, disability, race, marital status or family status. During the year ended 31 March 2019, the Group had no material non-compliance with applicable legislation or regulations.
Awards from founders of the Group to staff with long service years
Notice posted at the Group’s office
premises to remind staff to save papers
Notice posted at the Group’s office
premises to remind staff to save
electricity
31Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND gOVERNANCE REPORT
In addition to the above policy, during FY2019, the Group engaged a MPF services provider to provide MPF services to the Group’s staff including educating the Group’s staff to manage their portfolio and liaise with MPF trustees for a lower management fee so as to improve their long term welfare.
As at 31 March 2019, the staff gender and age distribution by position is as follows:
PositionNo. of
employees Male FemaleAged
under 30Aged
30 to 40Aged
41 to 50Aged
above 50
Manager or above 42 29 13 0 8 29 5General staff 145 115 30 46 67 22 10
Staff turnover during the year ended 31 March 2018 is as follows:
CategoryNo. of
employees Male FemaleAged
under 30Aged
30 to 40Aged
41 to 50Aged
above 50
New staff 9 4 5 4 2 2 1Staff turnover 105 84 21 44 43 16 2
B2: Health and SafetyAs a people-oriented organisation, the Group strives to provide its staff with a safe and healthy workplace. First aid kits are available in every office premises. During the relocation of its head office, the Group hired professionals to carry out removal of formaldehyde and air catalyst purification service to ensure good internal air quality. The Group also offers medical insurances for permanent staff and subsidizes its staff with access to fitness centers so as to encourage them to exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle. During the year ended 31 March 2019, the Group had no material non-compliance with applicable legislation or regulations.
B3: Development and TrainingRegular trainings are provided to staff to ensure they are equipped with the appropriate and up-to-date skills to handle their job
duties. The Group also sponsors staff to enroll external training courses that are required for their job engagements. Team leaders are
encouraged to work closely with staff to understand their needs for development.
B4: Labour StandardsThe Group strictly complies with the labour legislation in relation to prevention of child and forced labour. There is a procedure to
collect and review documents for identity and age verification during recruitment. During the reporting period, the Group had no
non-compliance of regulations in relation to prevention of child and forced labour.
B5: Supply Chain ManagementThe Group has maintained long term and stable relationships with major suppliers. All suppliers are evaluated carefully and are
subjected to regular monitoring and assessment. During the reporting period, the Group was not aware that any key suppliers had
any actions or practices that have a significant negative impact on business ethics, environmental protection, human rights and
labour practices.Certificate of appreciation awarded to staff with contribution to the Group’s in-house training programmes
32 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND gOVERNANCE REPORT
B6: Product ResponsibilityIt is the Group’s policy to respect intellectual property rights and prohibit the use of infringing articles in its business. All staff are
required to strictly follow the relevant laws such as Copyright Ordinance. During the reporting period, the Group had no material
non-compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
The continuous support from customers has been one of the critical success factors of the Group, therefore the Group put strong
emphasis on providing quality products and services to its customers. Customer complaints, if any, are reviewed by respective
technical team members to address. If necessary, the team will also escalate complaints to management for follow-up actions.
The Group has a comprehensive security policy in place to safeguard its assets and information. The Group’s security and
confidentiality guideline requires its staff to comply with regulations in relation to physical security, access control security, data
security, application security, network and communication, and password management.
Regarding data privacy, the Group requires its staff to follow the applicable laws such as Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance when
handling both customers’ and internal personal data. Staff are required to agree to hold all confidential information in trust and
confidence upon contract signing, during and after the staff’s period of service. For governmental projects, the Group treats all
information received from the Government as confidential and agrees to use the confidential information solely for the purposes of
assignment contracts.
B7: Anti-corruptionAll staff must perform duties with integrity and act with due diligence to ensure the Group’s reputation is not tarnished by
misconduct and corruption. The Group’s code of conduct requires staff to follow the applicable legislation and regulations such
as Prevention of Bribery Ordinance. Policies on solicitation of advantages, acceptance of advantages, acceptance of entertainment
and offer of advantages are established to prohibit staff from committing bribery offence. For any incidents and queries on possible
breach of the Group’s code of conduct, an employee may inform the appropriate management in accordance with the staff
handbook. During the reporting period, there was no confirmed case of corruption and non-compliance of the relevant laws and
regulations.
33Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND gOVERNANCE REPORT
B8: Community InvestmentOver the years, the Group believes in the importance of developing young talents in the society. The Group has been working closely
with different educational organisations to provide scholarships and internship opportunities to their students to support education
of young generation and for them to learn real-life working skills. During the year ended 31 March 2019, the Group also made a
number of donations to charitable organisation and participated in social responsibility event. In the coming years, the Group will
continue to work actively on contributing the community and promoting the social responsibility culture among its staff.
Certificates of appreciation awarded to the Group for its support towards young generation development and charitable organisation
34 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
BIOgRAPHICAL DETAILS OF DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAgEMENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSMr. Lee Cheong Yuen (李昌源 ) (“Mr. Lee”), aged 51, is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and an executive Director. Mr. Lee is also a member of the Nomination Committee. Mr. Lee founded the Group in 1992. Mr. Lee is primarily responsible for overseeing the
business development, in-house operations, overall strategic planning, devising market strategies and business expansion plans of
the Group. In the past years, he led the Group to successfully complete several large-scale IT application and solution development
projects for major clients in the public sector, private sector, banking and finance sector and logistics sector. Mr. Lee obtained a
degree of bachelor of science in computer studies from The University of Hong Kong (“HKU”) in December 1989. He has over 25
years of experience in the IT industry. Mr. Lee is also one of the controlling shareholders of the Company.
Mr. Chan Kwok Pui (陳國培 ) (“Mr. Chan”), aged 62, is redesignated from Non-executive Director to executive Director and appointed as a member of the Nomination Committee on 22 February 2019. Prior to the redesignation, Mr. Chan was responsible
for advising on business opportunities for investment, development and expansion of the Group as well as providing extra advisory
services to the Group with a focus on technological development. Mr. Chan is primarily responsible for overseeing the business
development, in-house operations, overall strategic planning, devising market strategies and business expansion plans of the Group.
Mr. Chan obtained a degree of bachelor of science in computer studies from HKU in December 1989. Mr. Chan has over 25 years of
experience in the IT industry. Mr. Chan was a computer officer at HKU from August 1992 to August 1995. He then joined the Group
in 1995. Mr. Chan is also one of the controlling shareholders of the Company.
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
Mr. Tam Kwok Wah (譚國華 ) (“Mr. Tam”), aged 69, is a non-executive Director and is responsible for advising on business opportunities for investment, development and expansion of the Group as well as providing extra advisory services to the Group with
a focus on business development on both local and overseas market. Mr. Tam obtained a degree of bachelor of social sciences from
HKU in November 1975. He further received a master degree of science from The University of Manchester in the United Kingdom
in December 1982. Mr. Tam was an assistant professor of HKU’s business school, which was the last position he held at HKU from
January 1985 to June 2004. Mr. Tam is also one of the controlling shareholders of the Company.
Ms. Tuon Wai Man (董慧敏 ) (“Ms. Tuon”), aged 41, appointed on 22 February 2019, is a non-executive Director and is responsible for providing professional advice on business opportunities of the Group. Ms. Tuon obtained a degree of Bachelor of Business
Administration in business economics from City University of Hong Kong in 2000 and a master degree of business administration
in general management from Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2007. Ms. Tuon possesses extensive experience in sales and
marketing and is now a senior unit manager of a multinational insurance service provider.
35Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
BIOgRAPHICAL DETAILS OF DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAgEMENT
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORSDr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce (張少能 ) (“Dr. Cheung”), aged 54, is an independent non-executive Director and is responsible for providing independent judgment on the issues of strategy, performance, resources and standard of conduct of the Group.
Dr. Cheung is also the chairman of the Nomination Committee, and a member of the Remuneration Committee and the Audit
Committee. Dr. Cheung obtained a degree of doctor of philosophy from HKU in January 1995. Dr. Cheung has extensive experience
in IT technology and has been serving HKU SPACE as a Senior Programme Director since 1992. He is responsible for the strategic
planning and development of new programmes in IT and new technologies. Currently, he is also serving as an Associate Head of the
College of Life Science and Technology, HKU SPACE.
Mr. Fong Sing Chak Jack (方聲澤 ) (“Mr. Fong”), aged 55, appointed on 1 September 2018, is an independent non-executive Director and is responsible for providing independent judgement on the issues of strategy, performance, resources and standard of
conduct of the Group. Mr. Fong is also the chairman of the Remuneration Committee, and a member of the Nomination Committee
and the Audit Committee. Mr. Fong obtained a bachelor degree in laws from HKU. In February 1992, Mr. Fong was admitted as a
solicitor in Hong Kong and was appointed as notary public in February 2010. Mr. Fong is now a sole proprietor of a law firm in
Hong Kong and he provides general practice in laws. Mr. Fong is currently an independent and non-executive director of Singapore
Myanmar Investco Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Stock Exchange.
Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret (甘敏儀 ) (“Ms. Kam”), aged 51, is an independent non-executive Director and is responsible for providing independent judgment on the issues of strategy, performance, resources and standard of conduct of the Group. Ms. Kam
is also the chairlady of the Audit Committee, and a member of the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee. Ms.
Kam obtained a degree of bachelor of commerce from the University of Melbourne in Australia in July 1990 and a master degree
of business administration through distance learning from the University of Southern Queensland in Australia in May 2008. Ms.
Kam was admitted as a certified practising accountant of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants in September
1994. She has been a fellow member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants since October 2004. Ms. Kam is a
qualified accountant who possesses extensive experience in auditing and accounting, finance, treasury management and corporate
compliance for various companies listed on the Stock Exchange.
Saved as disclosed herein, to the best of the knowledge, information and belief of our Directors having made all reasonable enquiries,
there was no other matter with respect to the appointment of our Directors that needs to be brought to the attention of our
Shareholders and there was no information in relation to our Directors that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Rules 13.51(2) of
the Listing Rules as at the date of this annual report.
36 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
BIOgRAPHICAL DETAILS OF DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAgEMENT
SENIOR MANAgEMENTMr. Leung Man Lun Walter (梁萬倫 ) (“Mr. Walter Leung”), aged 57, is the managing director of ICO Technology Limited. He joined the Group in 2006 and is responsible for the overall management of ICO Technology Limited including strategic planning and
sales and marketing in Hong Kong. Mr. Walter Leung has over 30 years of experience in the IT industry including data processing,
programming, customer support strategic planning, sales and marketing and management of daily operations.
Mr. Ho Chak Keung (何澤強 ) (“Mr. Ho”), aged 50, is the general manager of ICO Technology Limited. He joined the Group in 2006 and is responsible for coordinating daily operational functions and human resources of the business of ICO Technology Limited,
he is also responsible for marketing strategy in Hong Kong including generating sales leads and building brand awareness of the
Group. Mr. Ho obtained a degree of bachelor of science in computer systems engineering from the University of Kent in the United
Kingdom. He has over 20 years of IT sales and marketing experience.
Mr. Ko Ka Hay Kenneth (高嘉禧 ) (“Mr. Kenneth Ko”), aged 55, is the general manager of ICO Technology Limited. He joined the Group in 2015 as director of strategic business and promoted to general manager in April 2019. Mr. Kenneth Ko is responsible
for the supervision, performance, development, strategies of both sales and technical teams. Mr. Kenneth Ko obtained a degree of
bachelor of economics from the National Taiwan University. He has over 30 years of experience in IT industry. Before joining the
Group, Mr. Kenneth Ko was the managing director of a Japanese listed company and responsible for the management on both
information technology division and data card technology division.
Mr. Chung Yat Ming (鍾日明 ) (“Mr. Chung”), aged 56, is the director of business development of ICO Technology Limited. He joined the Group in 2015 and is responsible for sales and marketing including leading one of the sales teams, assisting Mr. Kenneth
Ko to acquire new products and identifying business opportunities. He has over 33 years of experience in IT industry. Before joining
the company, Mr. Chung was the general manager of an international IT company for 12 years.
From left:
Mr. Chan Kwok Pui (Executive Director), Mr. Tam Kwok Wah (Non-executive Director), Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen (Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer), Dr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce (Independent Non-executive Director) and Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret (Independent
Non-executive Director)
37Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
The Directors hereby present their report and the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2019.
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIESThe principal activity of the Company is investment holding. The principal activities and other particulars of its subsidiaries are set
out in note 17 to the consolidated financial statements. There were no significant changes in the nature of the Group’s principal
activities during the year.
BUSINESS REVIEWA fair review of the Group’s business, an indication of likely future development in the Group’s business, an analysis using financial
key indicators as required by Schedule 5 to the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) can be found in the “Chairman Statement” and “Management Discussion and Analysis” section, which forms part of this Report of Directors of this annual report.
KEY RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES FACINg BY THE gROUPThe followings are part of the key risks and uncertainties identified by the Group. There may be other risks and uncertainties in
addition to those shown below which are not known to the Group or which may not be material now but could turn out to be
material in the future.
The Group may encounter cost overruns or delays in the IT application and solution development projects, which may materially and adversely affect the Group’s business, financial position and results of operationThe Group generally provides IT application and solution development services on a project basis. Some IT application and solution
development projects are awarded through competitive tendering process. The Group has to estimate the time and costs needed
for the implementation of these IT application and solution development projects in order to determine the quotations. There is no
assurance that the actual time taken and costs incurred would not exceed the estimation. The Group expects to continue bidding on
fixed-price contracts, the terms of which normally require the Group to complete a project for a fixed price, increasing the possibility
of exposing the Group to cost overruns and resulting in lower profits or losses in a project.
The actual time taken and cost incurred by the Group in completing IT application and solution development projects may be
affected by many factors, including technical difficulties, integration with third party vendors’ products, and other unforeseeable
problems and circumstances. Any one of these factors can cause delays in the completion of project or cost overruns.
Most of the IT application and solution development projects are subject to specific completion schedules and some of the
customers are entitled to claim liquidated damages from the Group if the Group does not meet the schedules. Liquidated damages
are typically levied at an agreed rate for each day or part of a day for such delay. Failure to meet the schedule requirements of the
contracts may result in a significant number of liquidated damages claims, other contract liabilities and disputes with the customers
or even the termination of relevant contracts. There is no guarantee that the Group would not encounter cost overruns or delays in
the current and future IT application and solution development projects. Should such problems occur, the Group’s business, financial
position and results of operations of the Group would be materially and adversely affected.
38 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
The Group relies on contracts with its major customersThe Group relies on contracts with its major customers. Revenue for the Group’s top five customers accounted for approximately
29% and 36% respectively of the Group’s total revenue for the years ended 31 March 2018 and 2019. It is not assured that the
Group can successfully expand its customer base and secure new customers given the competitiveness of the industry in which the
Group operates. Reduction in demand for services or termination of the contract by the top five customers of the Group may cause
material decrease in revenue which in turn may adversely affect the Group’s business, financial condition and results of operation.
The Group’s contracts are project basis which creates uncertainty on future revenue streamsThe Group’s IT application and solution development services are conducted on a project-by-project basis which is not recurring
in nature. The Group’s customers may subsequently engage the Group in enhancement works or conducting upgrades for the
systems developed by the Group in previous projects. The customers may also engage the Group to develop new IT systems after
the retirement of outdated systems. However, there is no assurance that the customers will continue to provide the Group with new
businesses after completion of the Group’s projects.
After the completion of IT application and solution development projects, the Group usually provides maintenance and support
services to the customers under separate agreements. The Group cannot guarantee that these maintenance and support service
agreements will be renewed in the future nor can the Group guarantees that it shall be able to enter into new agreements with the
customers.
The contracts are project basis which creates uncertainty on future revenue streams. In the event that the Group is unable to renew
the existing agreements or secure new engagements with customers or customers substantially reduce their purchase orders, the
Group’s business and future revenue will likely be adversely affected.
Risks relating to the Group’s investmentsDuring FY 2019 and up to the date of this report, the Group made several investments by entering agreements to acquire 15% equity
interest of INAX, 40% equity interest of PointSoft and Project CKB.
Shall the value of these investments drop in the future mode or the performance of these investments are not as good as expected,
impairment of these investments may result which will lead to deterioration of the Group’s financial results and financial position.
Furthermore, as Project CKB is situated in Malaysia, unfavourable change in foreign exchange rate may also lead to deterioration of
the Group’s financial results and financial position.
39Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND PERFORMANCEA discussion on the environmental policies and performance of the Company can be found in the “Environmental, Social and Governance Report” section, which forms part of this Report of Directors of this annual report.
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REgULATIONSAs far as the Board is aware, the Group has complied in material respects with the relevant laws and regulations that have a
significant impact on the business and operation of the Group.
RESULTS AND APPROPRIATIONSThe results of the Group for the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018 are set out in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and
the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income on pages 55 to 56 of this annual report.
DIVIDENDThe Directors do not recommend the payment of a final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2019 (2018: Nil).
The Company is not aware of any arrangements under which a shareholder has waived or agreed to waive any dividends.
FINANCIAL SUMMARYThe summary of the results and of the assets and liabilities of the Group is set out on page 140 of this annual report.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENTDetails of the movements during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018 in property, plant and equipment of the Group are set
out in note 12 to the consolidated financial statements in this annual report.
BORROWINgSParticulars of borrowings as at 31 March 2019 and 2018 are set out in note 23 to the consolidated financial statements in this
annual report.
SHARE CAPITALDetails of the movements during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018 in the share capital of the Company are set out in note
27 to the consolidated financial statements in this annual report.
PURCHASE, SALE OR REDEMPTION OF LISTED SECURITIESNeither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have purchased, sold or redeemed any securities of the Company during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018.
40 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
DISTRIBUTABLE RESERVES OF THE COMPANYAs at 31 March 2019, the Company’s reserves available for distribution to the shareholders, calculated in accordance with the Companies Law, Chapter 22 (Law 3 of 1961, as consolidated and revised) of the Cayman Islands amounted to approximately HK$217.2 million (2018: HK$114.9 million).
MAJOR CLIENTS AND SUPPLIERSFor the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018, sales to the Group’s five largest customers accounted for approximately 36% and 29% respectively of the total sales for the year and sales to the largest customer included therein amounted to approximately 23% and 9% respectively. For the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018, purchases from the Group’s five largest suppliers accounted for approximately 50% and 37% respectively of the total cost of sales for the year and purchase from the largest supplier included therein amounted to approximately 15% and 12% respectively.
At no time during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018 have the Directors, chief executive, substantial shareholders of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their associates (which to the knowledge of the Directors own more than 5% of the Company’s issued shares) had any interest in these major customers and suppliers.
RELATIONSHIP WITH EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERSThe Group’s success depends on the support from key stakeholders which comprise employees, customers and suppliers.
EmployeesEmployees are regarded as the most important and valuable assets of the Group. The Group is committed to provide its employees with a safe and healthy workplace and encourage them to have a work-life balance. The Group also ensures all employees are reasonably remunerated and regular trainings are provided for its technical staff. During the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018, the Group has not experienced any significant problems with its employees nor has experienced any difficulty in the recruitment and retention of experienced staff. The Group maintains good relationship with its employees.
CustomersThe Group has a diversified customer base with hundreds of customers across various industries, including government and statutory bodies, financial institutions and general business enterprises. The Group stays connected with its customers through various channels to obtain their feedback and suggestions. During the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018, the Group does not have any significant disputes with its customers and maintained good relationship with them.
SuppliersThe Group carefully selects its suppliers as the success of the Group depends on the quality of products and services obtained from them. During the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018, the Group does not have any significant disputes with its suppliers and maintained good relationship with them.
SHARE OPTION SCHEMEThe Company adopted a share option scheme (the ”Scheme”) after the shareholders of the Company approved the scheme at the annual general meeting of the Company on 12 August 2016 (the “Adoption Date”). Summary of the Scheme as set out below:
(1) Purpose of the SchemeThe purpose of the Scheme is to enable the Group to grant options to selected participants as incentives or rewards for their contribution to the Group, in particular, (i) to motivate and optimize their performance and efficiency of the Group; and (ii) to attract and retain or maintain ongoing business relationships with those have or will have contributions to the Group.
41Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
(2) ParticipantsThe Board may, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme and the Listing Rules, at their absolute discretion, invite full-time or part-time employees of the Group and any Directors, advisers, consultants, suppliers, customers and agent of the Group, who have contributed or will contribute to the Group to take up options to subscribe for such number of shares at the subscription price determined by the Board.
(3) Maximum number of shares available for subscription(i) The maximum number of shares which may be issued upon exercise of all options to be granted at any time under the
Scheme and any other share option schemes of the Company must not in aggregate exceed 10% of the relevant class of the shares in issue as at the date when the Scheme was approved and adopted by the shareholders (the “Scheme Mandate Limit”). Options lapsed in accordance with the terms of the Scheme will not be counted for the purpose of calculating the Scheme Mandate Limit.
(ii) The Company may seek approval by its shareholders in general meeting for ”refreshing” the Scheme Mandate Limit under the Scheme. However, the total number of shares which may be issued upon exercise of all options to be granted under the Scheme and any other schemes of the Company under the limit as “refreshed” must not exceed 10% of the relevant class of the shares in issue as at the date of passing the relevant resolution to refresh such limit. Options previously granted under the Scheme and any other schemes (including those outstanding, cancelled, lapsed in accordance with the Scheme or any other schemes or exercised options) will not be counted for the purpose of calculating the Scheme Mandate Limit as “refreshed”.
(iii) The Company may seek separate approval by its shareholders in general meeting for granting options beyond the Scheme Mandate Limit provided the options in excess of the Scheme Mandate Limit are granted only to participants specifically identified by the Company before such approval is sought. The Company must send a circular to the shareholders containing a generic description of the specified participants who may be granted such options, the number and terms of the options to be granted, the purpose of granting options to the specified participants with an explanation as to how the terms of the options serve such purpose, the information and the disclaimer required under the Listing Rules.
(iv) The maximum number of shares which may be issued upon exercise of all outstanding options granted and yet to be exercised under the Scheme and any other schemes of the Company must not exceed 30% of the relevant class of the shares in issue from time to time. No options may be granted under the Scheme or any other schemes of the Company if this will result in this limit being exceeded.
(4) Maximum entitlement of each participant(i) Unless approved by the shareholders, the total number of shares issued and to be issued upon exercise of the options
granted to each participant (including both exercised and outstanding options) in any 12-month period must not exceed 1% of the relevant class of the shares in issue.
(ii) The Company may grant further options in excess of such limit subject to the approval of the shareholders in general meeting with such participant and his associates abstaining from voting (or his associates if the participant is a core connected person abstaining from voting).
(iii) The Company shall send a circular to the shareholders and the circular must disclose the identity of the participant, the numbers and terms of the options to be granted (and options previously granted to such participant), the information and the disclaimer required under the Listing Rules. The number and terms (including the subscription price) of options to be granted to such participant must be fixed before shareholders’ approval and the date of Board meeting proposing such further grant will be taken as the offer date for the purpose of calculating the subscription price.
42 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
(5) Option PeriodAn option may be exercised at any time during a period to be determined and notified by the Directors to each grantee and such period shall not exceed the period of ten (10) years from the offer date.
(6) No performance target and minimum period to holdUnless otherwise specified by the Board, a grantee is not required to achieve any performance target or to hold an option for a minimum period from the date of grant before any option granted under the Scheme can be exercised.
(7) Amount payable on acceptance of the option and the period within which payments must be made(i) An offer of the grant of an option shall be made to participants by letter in such form as the Board may from time to
time determine and shall remain open for acceptance by the participant concerned for a period of 28 days from the date upon which it is made provided that no such offer shall be open for acceptance after the earlier of the 10th anniversary of the Adoption Date or the termination of the Scheme.
(ii) A non-refundable nominal consideration of HK$1.00 is payable by the grantee upon acceptance of an option. An option shall be deemed to have been accepted when the duplicate letter comprising acceptance of the option duly signed by the participant together with the said consideration of HK$1.00 is received by the Company.
(8) Subscription priceThe subscription price shall be determined by the Board in its absolute discretion but in any event shall be not less than the higher of (i) the closing price of the shares on the Stock Exchange (as stated in the Stock Exchange’s daily quotations sheet) on the offer date, which must be a business day; (ii) the average closing price of the shares on the Stock Exchange (as stated in the Stock Exchange’s daily quotations sheets) for the five (5) business days immediately preceding the offer date; and (iii) the nominal value of the shares.
(9) The remaining life of the SchemeThe Scheme will remain in force for a period of ten (10) years after the Adoption Date, i.e. 12 August 2016.
No options were granted since the Adoption Date and up to the date of this report, the Company had 400,000,000 shares available for issue under the Scheme (representing 10% of the existing issued capital of the Company as at the date when the Scheme was approved and adopted by the shareholders). For further details of the Scheme, please refer to the Company’s circular dated 27 June 2016.
DIRECTORSThe Directors during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:
Executive DirectorsMr. Lee Cheong Yuen
Mr. Chan Kwok Pui (redesignated from Non-executive Director to Executive Director on 22 February 2019)Mr. Pang Yick Him (resigned on 22 February 2019)
Non-executive DirectorsMr. Tam Kwok Wah
Ms. Tuon Wai Man (appointed on 22 February 2019)
43Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
Independent non-executive DirectorsDr. Cheung Siu Nang BruceMr. Fong Sing Chak Jack (appointed on 1 September 2018)Ms. Kam Man Yi MargaretDr. Chan Mee Yee (resigned on 13 July 2018)
Pursuant to Article 112 of the Articles, the Directors shall have the power from time to time and at any time to appoint any person as a Director either to fill a casual vacancy on the Board or as an addition to the existing Board. Any directors so appointed by the Board shall hold office only until the next following general meeting of the Company and shall then be eligible for re-election.
Pursuant to Article 108 of the Articles, at each annual general meeting one-third of the Directors for the time being (or, if their number is not a multiple of three (3), the number nearest to but not less than one-third) shall retire from office by rotation provided that every Director, including those appointed for a specific term, shall be subject to retirement at least once every three years.
As disclosed in the announcements of the Company dated 13 July 2018, Dr. Chan Mee Yee has resigned as independent non-executive Director for the reason that the Company and Dr. Chan Mee Yee intend to engage in discussion on a possible co-operation. As disclosed in the announcements of the Company dated 22 February 2019, Mr. Pang Yick Him resigned as executive Director due to his other work commitment.
BIOgRAPHICAL DETAILS OF DIRECTORSBrief biographical details of the Directors of the Group are set out on pages from 34 to 36 of this annual report.
DIRECTORS’ SERVICE CONTRACTSEach of the executive Directors, non-executive Directors and independent non-executive Directors has entered into a service agreement with the Company for an initial or renewed term of three years and will continue thereafter until terminated in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
Save as disclosed above, none of the Directors has entered into any service contracts with the Company or any of its subsidiaries which is not determinable by the Group within one year without payment compensation other than the statutory compensation.
DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS IN TRANSACTIONS, ARRANgEMENTS AND CONTRACTSNo other transactions, arrangements or contracts that is significant in relation to the Group’s business to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries was a party and in which a director of the Company or his or her connected entities had a material interest, whether directly or indirectly, subsisted at the end or at any time during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018.
EMOLUMENTS OF THE DIRECTORS AND THE FIVE HIgHEST PAID INDIVIDUALSDetails of the emoluments of the Directors and the five highest paid individuals of the Group are set out in notes 9 and 10 to the consolidated financial statements in this annual report.
MANAgEMENT CONTRACTSNo contracts concerning the management and administration of the whole or any substantial part of the business of the Group were entered into or existed during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018.
EMOLUMENT POLICYThe Remuneration Committee will review and determine the remuneration and compensation packages of the Directors with reference to their responsibilities, workload, time devoted to the Group and the performance of the Group.
44 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
MANDATORY PROVIDENT FUND RETIREMENT BENEFIT SCHEMEThe Group operates a defined contribution mandatory provident fund retirement benefit scheme (the “MPF Scheme”) under the
Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance for all of its employees in Hong Kong. Under the MPF Scheme, the employees are
required to contribute 5% of their monthly salaries or up to a maximum of HK$1,500 and they can choose to make additional
contributions. The employer’s monthly contributions are calculated at 5% of the employee’s monthly salaries or up to a maximum
of HK$1,500. Contributions to the MPF Scheme vest immediately. The employees are entitled to 100% of the employer’s mandatory
contributions upon their retirement at the age of 65, death or total incapacity.
COMPETINg INTERESTSThe Directors are not aware of any business or interest of the Directors nor the controlling shareholder of the Company nor any of
their respective associates (as defined in the Listing Rules) that compete or may compete with the business of the Group and any
other conflicts of interest which any such person has or may have with the Group during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018.
NON-COMPETITION UNDERTAKINgSEach of the controlling shareholders of the Company has undertaken to the Company in the deed of non-competition (the “Deed of Non-Competition”) that it/he will not, and will procure its/his associates (other than members of our Group) not to directly or
indirectly be involved in or undertake any business that directly or indirectly competes, or may compete, with the Group’s business
or undertaking, or hold shares or interest in any companies or business that compete directly or indirectly with the business engaged
by the Group from time to time except where the controlling shareholders hold less than 5% of the total issued share capital of any
company (whose shares are listed on the Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange) which is engaged in any business that is or
may be in competition with any business engaged by any member of the Group.
For the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018, the Company received an annual written confirmation from each controlling
shareholder of the Company in respect of its/his and its/his associates’ compliance with the Deed of Non-Competition. The
independent non- executive Directors have also reviewed and were satisfied that each of the controlling shareholders of the
Company had complied with the Deed of Non-Competition.
DIRECTORS’ AND CHIEF EXECUTIVES’ INTERESTS IN SHARESAs at 31 March 2019, the interests or short positions of the Directors and chief executives of the Company in the shares of the
Company (the “Shares”), underlying Shares or debentures of the Company and its associated corporations (within the meaning of
Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”)), which are required (a) to be
notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange pursuant to Division 7 and 8 of Part XV of the SFO (including interests or short
positions which they are taken or deemed to have under such provisions of the SFO); or (b) pursuant to Section 352 of the SFO, to be
entered in the register referred to therein; or (c) have to be notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange pursuant to the Model
Code were as follows:
NameCapacity andnature of interests
Number of Shares held
Approximate percentage to the
issued capital ofthe Company
Mr. Lee (Notes 2 and 3) Interest held jointly with another person;
interest of a controlled corporation
1,930,000,000 (L)
(Note 1)
41.09%
45Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
NameCapacity andnature of interests
Number of Shares held
Approximate percentage to the
issued capital ofthe Company
Mr. Chan (Notes 2 and 4) Interest held jointly with another person;
interest of a controlled corporation
1,930,000,000 (L)
(Note 1)
41.09%
Mr. Yong Man Kin (“Mr. Yong“)
(Notes 2 and 5)
Interest held jointly with another person;
interest of a controlled corporation
1,930,000,000 (L)
(Note 1)
41.09%
Mr. Tam (Notes 2 and 6) Interest held jointly with another person;
interest of a controlled corporation
1,930,000,000 (L)
(Note 1)
41.09%
Mr. Fong (Note 7) Beneficial owner; Interest in spouse 3,448,000 (L)
(Note 1)
0.07%
Ms. Tuon (Note 8) Beneficial owner; Interest in spouse 49,604,000 (L)
(Note 1)
1.06%
Notes:
1. The letter “L” denotes a long position in the shareholder’s interest in the share capital of the Company.
2. On 27 February 2015, the ultimate controlling shareholders of the Company, namely, Mr. Lee, Mr. Chan, Mr. Yong and Mr. Tam (“Controlling Shareholders”), entered into the confirmation deed to acknowledge and confirm, among other things, that they were parties acting in concert of each of the members of the Group. As such, the Controlling Shareholders together are deemed to have controlling interest in the share capital of the Company through BIZ Cloud Limited, Cloud Gear Limited, Friends True Limited and Imagine Cloud Limited.
3. Shares in which Mr. Lee is interested consist of (i) 1,170,000,000 Shares held by BIZ Cloud Limited, a company wholly-owned by Mr. Lee, and (ii) 760,000,000 Shares in which Mr. Lee is deemed to be interested as a result of being a party acting-in-concert with Mr. Chan, Mr. Yong and Mr. Tam.
4. Shares in which Mr. Chan is interested consist of (i) 110,000,000 Shares held by Cloud Gear Limited, a company wholly-owned by Mr. Chan, and (ii) 1,820,000,000 Shares in which Mr. Chan is deemed to be interested as a result of being a party acting-in-concert with Mr. Lee, Mr. Yong and Mr. Tam.
5. Shares in which Mr. Yong is interested consist of (i) 525,000,000 Shares held by Friends True Limited, a company wholly-owned by Mr. Yong, and (ii) 1,405,000,000 Shares in which Mr. Yong is deemed to be interested as a result of being a party acting-in-concert with Mr. Lee, Mr. Chan and Mr. Tam.
6. Shares in which Mr. Tam is interested consist of (i) 125,000,000 Shares held by Imagine Cloud Limited, a company wholly-owned by Mr. Tam, and (ii) 1,805,000,000 Shares in which Mr. Tam is deemed to be interested as a result of being a party acting-in-concert with Mr. Lee, Mr. Yong and Mr. Chan.
7. Shares in which Mr. Fong is interested consist of (i) 2,948,000 Shares held by Mr. Fong, and (ii) 500,000 Shares held by Ms. Yeung Ching Yee, the spouse of Mr. Fong.
8. Shares in which Ms. Tuon is interested consist of (i) 49,284,000 Shares held by Ms. Tuon, and (ii) 320,000 Shares held by Mr. Tsoi Pak Ho, the spouse of Ms. Tuon.
9. As at 31 March 2019, the Company’s issued ordinary share capital was HK$11,741,263 divided into 4,696,505,221 of HK$0.0025 each.
Save as disclosed above, as at 31 March 2019, none of the Directors and chief executive of the Company had any other interests or
short positions in any Shares, underlying Shares or debentures of the Company or its associated corporations (within the meaning
of Part XV of the SFO) as recorded in the register required to be kept under Section 352 of the SFO or as otherwise notified to the
Company and the Stock Exchange pursuant to the Model Code.
46 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
ARRANgEMENTS TO PURCHASE SHARES OR DEBENTURESSave as disclosed above, at no time during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018 was the Company or any of its subsidiaries a party to any arrangements to enable the Directors to acquire benefits by means of the acquisition of shares in, or debentures of, the Company or any other body corporate.
SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS’ AND OTHER PERSONS’ INTERESTS AND SHORT POSITIONS IN SHARES AND UNDERLYINg SHARES OF THE COMPANYAs at 31 March 2019, the following parties held interests or short positions (directly or indirectly) in the Company’s Shares or underlying Shares were recorded in the register kept by the Company pursuant to Section 336 of the SFO:
Name Capacity and nature of interestsNumber of Shares
held
Number of underlying Shares
held
Aggregate long position in Shares/underlying Shares
Approximate percentage to theissued capital of
the Company
Mr. Lee (Notes 2 and 3) Interest held jointly with another person; interest of a controlled corporation
1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
41.09%
BIZ Cloud Limited (Notes 2 and 3)
Beneficial owner 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
41.09%
Ms. Saetia Ladda (Note 4) Interest in spouse 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
41.09%
Mr. Chan (Notes 2 and 5) Interest held jointly with another person; interest of a controlled corporation
1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
41.09%
Cloud Gear Limited (Notes 2 and 5)
Beneficial owner 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
41.09%
Mr. Yong (Notes 2 and 6) Interest held jointly with another person; interest of a controlled corporation
1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
41.09%
Friends True Limited (Notes 2 and 6)
Beneficial owner 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
41.09%
Ms. Ma Kit Ling (Note 7) Interest in spouse 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
41.09%
Mr. Tam (Notes 2 and 8) Interest held jointly with another person; interest of a controlled corporation
1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
41.09%
Imagine Cloud Limited (Notes 2 and 8)
Beneficial owner 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 1,930,000,000 (L)(Note 1)
41.09%
Lau Calvin Chuen Yien Beneficial owner 259,804,000 (L)(Note 1)
– 259,804,000 (L)(Note 1)
5.53%
Rainbow Field Investment Limited (Note 9)
Beneficial owner – 1,439,996,315 (L)(Note 1)
1,439,996,315 (L)(Note 1)
30.66%
Teoh Teng Guan (Note 9) Interest of a controlled corporation – 1,439,996,315 (L)(Note 1)
1,439,996,315 (L)(Note 1)
30.66%
47Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
Notes:
1. The letter “L” denotes a long position in the shareholder’s interest in the share capital of the Company.
2. On 27 February 2015, the Controlling Shareholders, namely, Mr. Lee, Mr. Chan, Mr. Yong and Mr. Tam, entered into the confirmation deed to acknowledge and confirm, among other things, that they were parties acting in concert of each of the members of the Group. As such, the Controlling Shareholders together are deemed to have controlling interest in the share capital of the Company through BIZ Cloud Limited, Cloud Gear Limited, Friends True Limited and Imagine Cloud Limited.
3. Shares in which Mr. Lee is interested consist of (i) 1,170,000,000 Shares held by BIZ Cloud Limited, a company wholly-owned by Mr. Lee, and (ii) 760,000,000 Shares in which Mr. Lee is deemed to be interested as a result of being a party acting-in-concert with Mr. Chan, Mr. Yong and Mr. Tam.
4. Ms. Saetia Ladda is the spouse of Mr. Lee. Under the SFO, Ms. Saetia Ladda is deemed to be interested in the same number of Shares in which Mr. Lee is interested.
5. Shares in which Mr. Chan is interested consist of (i) 110,000,000 Shares held by Cloud Gear Limited, a company wholly-owned by Mr. Chan, and (ii) 1,820,000,000 Shares in which Mr. Chan is deemed to be interested as a result of being a party acting-in-concert with Mr. Lee, Mr. Yong and Mr. Tam.
6. Shares in which Mr. Yong is interested consist of (i) 525,000,000 Shares held by Friends True Limited, a company wholly-owned by Mr. Yong, and (ii) 1,405,000,000 Shares in which Mr. Yong is deemed to be interested as a result of being a party acting-in-concert with Mr. Lee, Mr. Chan and Mr. Tam.
7. Ms. Ma Kit Ling is the spouse of Mr. Yong. Under the SFO, Ms. Ma Kit Ling is deemed to be interested in the Shares in which Mr. Yong is interested.
8. Shares in which Mr. Tam is interested consist of (i) 125,000,000 Shares held by Imagine Cloud Limited, a company wholly-owned by Mr. Tam, and (ii) 1,805,000,000 Shares in which Mr. Tam is deemed to be interested as a result of being a party acting-in-concert with Mr. Lee, Mr. Yong and Mr. Chan.
9. Interests arose from convertible bonds issued and to be issued for the acquisition of Project CKB, of which conversion of the bonds are subjected to certain restrictions. For details of the acquisition and conversion restrictions, please refer to project CKB Announcements and Circular.
10. As at 31 March 2019, the Company’s issued ordinary share capital was HK$11,741,263 divided into 4,696,505,221 of HK$0.0025 each.
Save as disclosed above, the Directors were not aware of any other persons, other than the Directors or the chief executive of the
Company who held an interest or short positions in the Shares and underlying Shares of the Company as at 31 March 2019 which
required to be recorded pursuant to Section 336 of SFO.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONSDetails of related party transactions of the Group during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018 are set out in note 33 to the
consolidated financial statements. None of these related party transactions constitute connected transactions or continuing
connected transactions as defined under the Listing Rules.
SUFFICIENCY OF PUBLIC FLOATAs at the date of this annual report, based on the information that is publicly available to the Company and to the best knowledge
of the Directors, the Directors confirm that the Company complies with the minimum of public float as required under the Listing
Rules.
PRE-EMPTIVE RIgHTSThere is no provisions for pre-emptive rights under the Company’s articles of association or the laws of the Cayman Islands which
would oblige the Company to offer new shares on a pro rata basis to existing shareholders.
48 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
REPORT OF DIRECTORS
TAX RELIEFThe Company is not aware of any relief from taxation available to shareholders by reason of their holding of the Company’s listed securities.
EQUITY-LINKED AgREEMENTSSave as disclosed in this annual report relating to the share option scheme and the acquisition of 40% equity interest of PointSoft and Project CKB, no equity-linked agreements were entered into during the year ended 31 March 2019 and up to the date of this report or subsisted as at 31 March 2019 and as at the date of this report.
PERMITTED INDEMNITY PROVISIONA permitted indemnity provision for the benefit of the Directors is currently in force and was in force throughout the reporting period. The Company has taken out and maintained appropriate insurance cover in respect of potential legal actions against its Directors.
EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTINg PERIOD
As disclosed in the announcements of the Company dated 16 April 2019, 18 April 2019, 25 April 2019 and 26 April 2019, the controlling shareholders of the Company disposed a total of 212,844,000 shares of the Company.
On 21 June 2019, following the announcement of the Company dated 12 June 2019, the Company issued convertible bonds with total face value of HK$8,057,692.50 to the vendor of Project CKB pursuant to the amended milestones set out in the announcements of the Company dated 9 November 2018.
Saved as disclosed above, there are no significant events after the reporting period of the Group up to the date of this annual report.
AUDITORThe consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2019 have been audited by Crowe (HK) CPA Limited.
Crowe (HK) CPA Limited will retire, and being eligible, offer themselves for re-appointment at the forthcoming annual general meeting. A resolution for their re-appointment as auditor of the Company will be proposed at the forthcoming annual general meeting.
The Audit Committee currently consists of three independent non-executive Directors namely Dr. Cheung Siu Nang Bruce, Mr. Fong Sing Chak Jack and Ms. Kam Man Yi Margaret (chairlady of the Audit Committee). The Audit Committee has reviewed with the management the accounting principles and practices adopted by the Group and discussed the auditing, internal control and financial reporting matters, including review of the audited consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 March 2019.
There have been no change in auditors of the Company in any of the preceding three years.
By order of the BoardLee Cheong YuenChairman, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
Hong Kong, 27 June 2019
49Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE SHAREHOLDERSOF ICO GROUP LIMITED(Incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability)
OPINIONWe have audited the consolidated financial statements of ICO Group Limited (“the Company”) and its subsidiaries (“the Group”) set
out on pages 55 to 139, which comprise the consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 March 2019, and the consolidated
statement of profit or loss, the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, the consolidated statement
of changes in equity and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the consolidated financial
statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of the Group
as at 31 March 2019, and of its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated cash flows for the year then ended in
accordance with Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards (“HKFRSs”) issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (“HKICPA”) and have been properly prepared in compliance with the disclosure requirements of the Hong Kong
Companies Ordinance.
BASIS FOR OPINIONWe conducted our audit in accordance with Hong Kong Standards on Auditing (“HKSAs”) issued by the HKICPA. Our responsibilities
under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Group in accordance with the HKICPA’s Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants
(“the Code”), and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code. We believe that the audit evidence
we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
KEY AUDIT MATTERSKey audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the consolidated
financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial
statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
50 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
Recognition of contract revenue(Refer to note 3(d) to the consolidated financial statements and the accounting policies in notes 2(k) and 2(u) to the consolidated financial statements)
The Key Audit Matter How the matter was addressed in our audit
The Group’s business involves entering into
contractual relationships with customers to
provide a range of services, including the provision
of IT application and solution development, IT
infrastructure solutions, secondment services,
maintenance and support services. A significant
proportion of the Group’s revenue and profits is
derived from long term contracts, most of which are
fixed price contracts.
The recognition of revenue for performance
obligations of long term contracts is based on the
stage of completion of work performed on a contract
at the end of the reporting period, using the cost-
to-cost method to estimate progress towards
completion, which control is considered to be
transferred over time because the service is unique
to each customer (has no alternative use) and the
Group has an enforceable right to payment for work
completed to date if the contract is terminated by
the customer or another party for reasons other
than the Group’s failure to perform as promised. The
recognition of revenue for an incomplete project is
dependent on estimating the total outcome of the
contract as well as the work performed to date.
Forecasting the outcome of a contract involves the
exercise of significant management judgement.
Deficiency in contract forecasts could result in a
material variance in the amount of profit or loss
recognised to date and therefore also in the current
period.
We identified the recognition of contract revenue
as a key audit matter because revenue recognition
involves a significant degree of management
judgement in assessing factors which can be
inherently uncertain and may be subject to
management bias.
Our audit procedures to assess the recognition of contract revenue including the following:
• obtaining an understanding of and assessing the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of key internal controls over the contract revenue including the control over recording work done, invoicing and cash receipts;
• on a sample basis, comparing management’s estimated costs to complete selected contracts at the end of the previous financial year with actual costs incurred during the current year and enquiring of the management about any significant variances identified; and
• selecting a sample of contracts and performing the following procedures for each contract selected:
– inspecting key terms, including contract sum, deliverables, timetable and milestones, set out in the contract and evaluating whether these key terms had been appropriately reflected in the total estimated revenue and costs to complete under the contract forecasts;
– discussing with the project manager and management the performance obligations of the contract and challenging their underlying judgements in their estimations of total estimated contract costs and estimated costs to complete the contract where it was still in progress at the end of the reporting period by comparing their estimates with underlying documentation, including contract agreements and sub-contracts, suppliers’ quotations and certifications or correspondence with sub-contractors and suppliers;
– comparing items recorded as contract costs during the year with suppliers’ contracts, goods receipt notes and other relevant underlying documentation;
– agreeing total contract revenue to the contracted terms;
– recalculating the percentage of completion based on contract costs incurred up to the end of the reporting period and estimated total contract costs; and
– recalculating revenue recognised to date, based on total contract revenue and the percentage of completion.
51Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
Recoverability of trade debtors and contract assets(Refer to notes 3(c), 18, 19 and 28(a) to the consolidated financial statements and the accounting policies in note 2(j)(i) to the consolidated financial statements)
The Key Audit Matter How the matter was addressed in our audit
The Group’s operations gave rise to significant
trade debtors and contract assets at the end of the
reporting period. As at 31 March 2019, trade debtors
and contract assets amounted to HK$169,322,000
and HK$4,483,000, which represented in aggregate
of 34.1% of the Group’s total assets as at that date.
Loss allowance for trade debtors and contract
assets is based on management’s estimate of the
lifetime expected credit losses to be incurred, which
is estimated by taking into account the credit
loss experience, ageing of overdue trade debtors,
customers’ repayment history and customers’
financial position and an assessment of both the
current and forecast general economic conditions, all
of which involve a significant degree of management
judgement.
We identified assessing the recoverability of trade
debtors and contract assets as a key audit matter
because the assessment of the recoverability of trade
debtors and contract assets and recognition of loss
allowance are inherently subjective and requires
significant management judgement, which increases
the risk of error or potential management bias.
Our audit procedures to assess the recoverability of trade debtors and
contract assets included the following:
• obtaining an understanding of and assessing the design,
implementation and operating effectiveness of key internal controls
relating to credit control, debt collection assessing the expected
credit loss of trade debtors and contract assets, and recognising the
impairment loss for doubtful debts;
• comparing, on a sample basis, the categorisation of trade debtors
and contract assets in the ageing report with invoices issued,
contract terms, contract progress reports and other relevant
underlying documentation;
• assessing the reasonableness of managements loss allowance
estimates by examining the information used by management
to form such judgements, including testing the accuracy of the
historical default data, evaluating whether the historical loss rates
are appropriately adjusted based on current economic conditions
and forward-looking information and examining the actual losses
recorded during the current financial year and assessing whether
there was an indication of management bias when recognising loss
allowances; and
• inspecting cash receipts, on a sample basis, from customers
subsequent to the end of the reporting period relating to trade
debtors as at 31 March 2019.
52 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
Valuation of convertible bonds(Refer to notes 3(f) and 25 to the consolidated financial statements and the accounting policies in note 2(q) to the consolidated financial statements)
The Key Audit Matter How the matter was addressed in the audit
During the year ended 31 March 2019, the Company
issued convertible bonds as deposit for acquisition
of a subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount
of HK$84,363,180. The embedded derivative
components of the Company’s convertible bonds are
stated at fair value based on the valuation carried
out by independent professional valuer.
The valuation of fair values of the convertible bonds
and embedded derivatives which includes significant
unobservable inputs and significant management
estimates was determined by the directors based
on the valuation performed by an independent
professional valuer.
Our audit procedures to assess the reasonableness of the valuation of
convertible bonds include the following:
• Evaluating the independent professional valuer’s competence,
capabilities and objectivity;
• Obtaining an understanding of the management process for
determining fair value of the convertible bonds and embedded
derivatives;
• Assessing whether the valuation methodology and the key
assumptions used by the management and external valuer to
estimate the fair values of convertible bonds and embedded
derivatives are appropriate; and
• Comparing input data to supporting evidences, such as market
indicators and considering the reasonableness of the data adopted.
INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND AUDITOR’S REPORT THEREONThe directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual
report, but does not include the consolidated financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon.
Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of
assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and,
in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements or our
knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are
required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
53Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSThe directors are responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements that give a true and fair view in accordance
with HKFRSs issued by the HKICPA and the disclosure requirements of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, and for such internal
control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s ability to continue as a
going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless
the directors either intend to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
The directors are assisted by the Audit Committee in discharging their responsibilities for overseeing the Group’s financial reporting
process.
AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTSOur objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements as a whole are free from
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. This report is made
solely to you, as a body, and for no other purpose. We do not assume responsibility towards or accept liability to any other person
for the contents of this report.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with HKSAs will
always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if,
individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis
of these consolidated financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with HKSAs, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional skepticism throughout
the audit. We also:
• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error,
design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate
to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for
one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of
internal control.
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in
the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related
disclosures made by the directors.
54 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
• Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit
evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on
the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw
attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the consolidated financial statements or, if such disclosures are
inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s
report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Group to cease to continue as a going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the consolidated financial statements, including the disclosures,
and whether the consolidated financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves
fair presentation.
• Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the
Group to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and
performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.
We communicate with the Audit Committee regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and
significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
We also provide the Audit Committee with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding
independence and communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our
independence and, where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with the Audit Committee, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit
of the consolidated financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in
our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances,
we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would
reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
The engagement partner on the audit resulting in this independent auditor’s report is Poon Cheuk Ngai.
Crowe (HK) CPA LimitedCertified Public AccountantsHong Kong, 27 June 2019
Poon Cheuk Ngai
Practising Certificate Number P06711
55Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS
2019 2018
Note HK$’000 HK$’000
Revenue 4 595,467 409,935
Cost of sales (498,062) (361,221)
Gross profit 97,405 48,714
Other revenue 5 498 93
Other net loss 6 (137) (17)
General and administrative expenses (64,155) (56,593)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration payable 24 21,492 2,901
Change in fair value of derivative component in convertible bonds 25 45,621 –
Gain on conversion of convertible bonds 25 1,276 –
Share of profit of associates 542 –
Share of loss of joint ventures (653) –
Finance costs 7(a) (4,971) (657)
Profit/(loss) before taxation 7 96,918 (5,559)
Income tax 8 (3,734) (1,524)
Profit/(loss) for the year 93,184 (7,083)
Attributable to: Equity shareholders of the Company 83,920 (11,169)
Non-controlling interests 9,264 4,086
Profit/(loss) for the year 93,184 (7,083)
Earnings/(loss) per share 11
Basic (HK cents per share) 1.85 (0.27)
Diluted (HK cents per share) 0.40 (0.34)
The notes on pages 61 to 139 form part of these financial statements.
56 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOMEFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Profit/(loss) for the year 93,184 (7,083)
Other comprehensive (loss)/income for the yearItems that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:
Change in fair value of financial asset at fair value through other
comprehensive income (non-recycling) (33,909) –
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Exchange differences on translation of financial statements of overseas subsidiary (7) 13
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year 59,268 (7,070)
Attributable to: Equity shareholders of the Company 50,004 (11,156)
Non-controlling interests 9,264 4,086
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year 59,268 (7,070)
The notes on pages 61 to 139 form part of these financial statements.
57Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
31 March 31 March
2019 2018
Note HK$’000 HK$’000
Non-current assetsProperty, plant and equipment 12 47,935 49,889
Intangible assets 13 140 264
Interests in associates 14 62,488 –
Interests in joint ventures 15 1,098 –
Other financial asset 16 37,800 71,709
Deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary 19(f) 117,602 8,659
267,063 130,521
Current assetsTrade and other receivables 19 175,856 151,355
Contract assets 18 4,483 –
Tax recoverable 26(a) 5,924 6,134
Pledged bank deposits 20 3,197 3,197
Cash and cash equivalents 21(a) 52,980 38,286
242,440 198,972
Current liabilitiesTrade and other payables 22 (82,760) (62,850)
Contract liabilities 18 (10,489) –
Bank loans 23 (7,591) (22,900)
Contingent consideration payable 24 (10,715) (31,268)
Derivative component in convertible bonds 25 (2,951) –
Tax payable 26(a) (2,177) (415)
(116,683) (117,433)
Net current assets 125,757 81,539
Total assets less current liabilities 392,820 212,060
Non-current liabilitiesLiability component in convertible bonds 25 (52,773) –
Deferred tax liabilities 26(b) (161) (161)
(52,934) (161)
Net assets 339,886 211,899
58 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
31 March 31 March
2019 2018
Note HK$’000 HK$’000
Capital and reservesShare capital 27(b) 11,741 10,546
Reserves 316,077 195,364
Total equity attributable to equity shareholders of the Company 327,818 205,910
Non-controlling interests 12,068 5,989
Total equity 339,886 211,899
The consolidated financial statements on pages 55 to 139 were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on 27
June 2019 and were signed on its behalf by:
Lee Cheong Yuen Chan Kwok Pui Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Executive Director
The notes on pages 61 to 139 form part of these financial statements.
59Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANgES IN EQUITY
Attributable to equity shareholders of the Company
Fair value reserve Non- Share Share Exchange (non- Retained controlling Total capital premium reserve recycling) profits Total interest equity HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Balance at 1 April 2017 10,000 78,785 (51) – 90,792 179,526 4,500 184,026
Changes in equity for 2017/18: Loss for the year – – – – (11,169) (11,169) 4,086 (7,083) Other comprehensive income for the year — Exchange differences on translation of financial statements of overseas subsidiary – – 13 – – 13 – 13Total comprehensive loss for the year – – 13 – (11,169) (11,156) 4,086 (7,070)Shares issued for acquisition of available-for-sale investment 546 36,994 – – – 37,540 – 37,540Interim dividend declared to non-controlling shareholders in respect of the current year – – – – – – (2,597) (2,597)
Balance at 31 March 2018 and 1 April 2018 10,546 115,779 (38) – 79,623 205,910 5,989 211,899
Changes in equity for 2018/19: Profit for the year – – – – 83,920 83,920 9,264 93,184 Other comprehensive income for the year — Change in fair value of financial asset at fair value through other comprehensive income (non-recycling) – – – (33,909) – (33,909) – (33,909) — Exchange differences on translation of financial statements of overseas subsidiary – – (7) – – (7) – (7)Total comprehensive income for the year – – (7) (33,909) 83,920 50,004 9,264 59,268Shares issued for acquisition of an associate 431 30,675 – – – 31,106 – 31,106Shares issued for settlement of contingent consideration payable in relation to acquisition of other financial asset 546 29,354 – – – 29,900 – 29,900Shares issued upon conversion of convertible bonds 218 10,680 – – – 10,898 – 10,898Interim dividend declared to non-controlling shareholders in respect of the current year – – – – – – (3,185) (3,185)
Balance at 31 March 2019 11,741 186,488 (45) (33,909) 163,543 327,818 12,068 339,886
The notes on pages 61 to 139 form part of these financial statements.
60 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2019 2018
Note HK$’000 HK$’000
Operating activitiesProfit/(loss) before taxation 96,918 (5,559)Adjustments for: Depreciation and amortisation 2,811 2,785 Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 7(c) – 277 Change in fair value of contingent consideration payables 24 (21,492) (2,901) Bank interest income 5 (23) (2) Change in fair value of derivative component in convertible bonds 25 (45,621) – Gain on conversion of convertible bonds 25 (1,276) – Share of profit of associates (542) – Share of loss of joint ventures 653 – Written off of trade debtors 7(c) 129 – Finance costs 7(a) 4,971 657 Net foreign exchange differences (4) 10
36,524 (4,733)
Changes in working capital: (Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables (55,012) 14,598 Decrease in contract assets 25,899 – Increase in trade and other payables 27,357 15,066 Increase in contract liabilities 3,042 –
Cash generated from operations 37,810 24,931
Income tax paid 26(a) (1,762) (8,211)
Net cash generated from operating activities 36,048 16,720
Investing activitiesPayment for purchase of property, plant and equipment (736) (1,515)Payment for deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary – (8,659)Investment in an associate (1) –Advance to a joint venture (1,751) –Interest received 23 2
Net cash used in investing activities (2,465) (10,172)
Financing activitiesProceeds from bank loans 21(b) 36,640 60,196Repayment of bank loans 21(b) (51,949) (52,796)Interest on bank borrowings paid 21(b) (395) (468)Dividend paid to non-controlling shareholders (3,185) (2,597)
Net cash (used in)/generated from financing activities (18,889) 4,335
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 14,694 10,883Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 38,286 27,403
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 21(a) 52,980 38,286
The notes on pages 61 to 139 form part of these financial statements.
61Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. gENERAL INFORMATIONICO Group Limited (the “Company”) was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on 26 April 2013 as an exempted company with
limited liability under the Companies Law (2011 Revision) (as consolidated and revised) of the Cayman Islands. The Company’s
registered office address is Clifton House, 75 Fort Street, P.O. Box 1350, Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands and the
principal place of business of the Company is Office A, 25th Floor, TG Place, No. 10 Shing Yip Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The
Company is an investment holding company and its subsidiaries are principally engaged in the businesses of IT application and
solution development, IT infrastructure solutions, secondment services and maintenance and support services.
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES(a) Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with all applicable Hong Kong Financial Reporting
Standards (“HKFRSs”), which collective term includes all applicable individual Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards,
Hong Kong Accounting Standards (“HKASs”) and Interpretations issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (“HKICPA”), accounting principles generally accepted in Hong Kong and the disclosure requirements of
the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance. These financial statements also comply with the applicable disclosure provisions
of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Listing Rules”). Significant accounting policies adopted by the Group are disclosed below.
The HKICPA has issued certain new and revised HKFRSs that are first effective or available for early adoption for the
current accounting period of the Group. Note 2(c) provides information on any changes in accounting policies resulting
from initial application of these developments to the extent that they are relevant to the Group for the current and prior
accounting periods reflected in these financial statements.
62 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(b) Basis of preparation of the financial statements
The consolidated financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2019 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries
(collectively referred to as the “Group”) and the Group’s interest in associates and joint ventures.
Items included in the financial statements of each entity in the Group are measured using the currency of the primary
economic environment in which the entity operates (the “functional currency”). These financial statements are
presented in Hong Kong dollars (“HK$”), which is the Company’s functional and the Group’s presentation currency.
The measurement basis used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements is the historical cost basis
except that the following asset and liabilities are stated at their fair value as explained in the accounting policies set out
below:
– Financial asset at fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”) (non-recycling) (see note 2(i))
– Contingent consideration payable (see note 2(n)(ii))
– Derivative component in convertible bonds (see note 2(p))
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with HKFRSs requires management to make judgements,
estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and
expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that
are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making the judgements
about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ
from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are
recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the
revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
Judgements made by management in the application of HKFRSs that have a significant effect on the financial
statements and major sources of estimation uncertainty are discussed in note 3.
63Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(c) Changes in accounting policies
The HKICPA has issued a number of new HKFRSs and amendments to HKFRSs that are firstly effective for the current
accounting period of the Group. Of these, the following developments are relevant to the Group’s financial statements:
(i) HKFRS 9 “Financial instruments”
(ii) HKFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers”
(iii) HK(IFRIC) Int-22 “Foreign currency transactions and advance consideration”
The Group has not applied any new standard or interpretation that is not yet effective for the current accounting period,
except for the amendments to HKFRS 9 “Prepayment features with negative compensation” which have been adopted at
the same time as HKFRS 9.
The following table shows the adjustments recognised for each individual line item. Line items that were not affected by
the changes have not been included. As a result, sub-totals and total disclosed cannot be recalculated from the numbers
provided. The adjustments are explained in more details by standard below.
31 March 2018 Effects Effects as of the of the originally adoption of adoption of 1 April presented HKFRS 9 HKFRS 15 2018 (note a) (note b) HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Non-current assetsFinancial assets measured at
FVOCI (non-recycling) – 71,709 – 71,709
Available-for-sale investment 71,709 (71,709) – –
Current assetsContract assets – – 30,382 30,382
Gross amounts due from
customers for contract work 30,382 – (30,382) –
Current liabilitiesContract liabilities – – 7,447 7,447
Gross amounts due to
customers for contract work 168 – (168) –
Customers’ deposits received 7,279 – (7,279) –
64 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(c) Changes in accounting policies (Continued)
(a) HKFRS 9 “Financial instruments”, including the amendments to HKFRS 9 “Prepayment features with negative compensation”
HKFRS 9 replaces HKAS 39, Financial instruments: recognition and measurement. It sets out the requirements for
recognising and measuring financial assets, financial liabilities and some contracts to buy or sell non-financial
items.
The Group has applied HKFRS 9 retrospectively to items that existed at 1 April 2018 in accordance with the
transition requirements. The Group has recognised the cumulative effect of initial application as an adjustment to
the opening equity at 1 April 2018. Therefore, comparative information continues to be reported under HKAS 39.
Further details of the nature and effect of the changes to previous accounting policies and the transition
approach are set out below:
(i) Classification of financial assets and financial liabilities
HKFRS 9 categories financial assets into three principal classification categories: measured at amortised
cost, at FVOCI and at fair value through profit or loss (“FVPL”). These supersede HKAS 39’s categories of
held-to-maturity investments, loans and receivables, available-for-sale financial assets and financial assets
measured at FVPL. The classification of financial assets under HKFRS 9 is based on the business model
under which the financial asset is managed and its contractual cash flow characteristics. Under HKFRS 9,
derivatives embedded in contracts where the host is a financial asset in the scope of the standard are not
separated from the host. Instead, the hybrid instrument as a whole is assessed for classification.
65Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(c) Changes in accounting policies (Continued)
(a) HKFRS 9 “Financial instruments”, including the amendments to HKFRS 9 “Prepayment features with negative compensation” (Continued)
(i) Classification of financial assets and financial liabilities (Continued)
The following table shows the original measurement categories for each class of the Group’s financial
assets under HKAS 39 and reconciles the carrying amounts of those financial assets determined in
accordance with HKAS 39 to those determined in accordance with HKFRS 9.
HKAS 39 HKFRS 9 carrying carrying amount at amount at 1 April 1 April 2018 Reclassification Remeasurement 2018 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Financial assets measured at
FVOCI (non-recycling)
Unlisted investment (note) – 71,709 – 71,709
Financial assets classified as
available-for-sale under
HKAS 39 (note) 71,709 (71,709) – –
Note: Under HKAS 39, unlisted investment was classified as available-for-sale financial assets. It is classified as FVOCI under HKFRS 9. There was no material impact on the measurement of unlisted investment at 1 April 2018 for the initial application of HKFRS 9.
For an explanation of how the Group classifies and measures financial assets and recognises related gains
and losses under HKFRS 9, see respective accounting policy notes in notes 2(i) and 2(j)(i).
There was no material impact on trade debtors and contract assets for the initial application of the new
impairment requirements under HKFRS 9 compared with under HKAS 39.
The measurement categories for all financial liabilities remain the same, except for financial guarantee
contracts (see note 2(j)(ii)). The carrying amounts for all financial liabilities (including financial guarantee
contracts) at 1 April 2018 have not been impacted by the initial application of HKFRS 9.
The Group did not designate or de-designate any financial asset or financial liability at FVPL at 1 April 2018.
66 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(c) Changes in accounting policies (Continued)
(a) HKFRS 9 “Financial instruments”, including the amendments to HKFRS 9 “Prepayment features with negative compensation (Continued)
(ii) Credit losses
HKFRS 9 replaces the “incurred loss” model in HKAS 39 with the “expected credit loss” (ECL) model. The
ECL model requires an ongoing measurement of credit risk associated with a financial asset and therefore
recognises ECLs earlier than under the “incurred loss” accounting model in HKAS 39.
The Group applies the new ECL model to the following items:
– financial assets measured at amortised cost (including cash and cash equivalents, trade and other
receivables , contract assets, deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary and pledged bank deposits);
– equity security measured at FVOCI (non-recycling); and
– financial guarantee contracts issued (see note 2(j)(ii)).
For further details on the Group’s accounting policy for accounting for credit losses, see note 2(j)(i).
(iii) Transition
Changes in accounting policies resulting from the adoption of HKFRS 9 have been applied retrospectively,
except as described below:
– Information relating to comparative periods has not been restated. Differences in the carrying
amounts of financial assets resulting from the adoption of HKFRS 9 are recognised in retained profits
and reserves as at 1 April 2018. Accordingly, the information presented for 2018 continues to be
reported under HKAS 39 and thus may not be comparable with the current period.
– The following assessments have been made on the basis of the facts and circumstances that existed
at 1 April 2018 (the date of initial application of HKFRS 9 by the Group)
– the determination of the business model within which a financial asset is held
– If, at the date of initial application, the assessment of whether there has been a significant increase in
credit risk since initial recognition would have involved undue cost or effort, a lifetime ECL has been
recognised for that financial instrument.
67Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(c) Changes in accounting policies (Continued)
(b) HKFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers”
HKFRS 15 establishes a comprehensive framework for recognising revenue and some costs from contracts
with customers. HKFRS 15 replaces HKAS 18 “Revenue”, which covered revenue arising from sale of goods and
rendering of services, and HKAS 11 “Construction contracts”, which specified the accounting for construction
contracts.
HKFRS 15 also introduces additional qualitative and quantitative disclosure requirements which aim to enable
users of the financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash
flows arising from contracts with customers.
The Group has elected to use the cumulative effect transition method and has recognised the cumulative effect
of initial application as an adjustment to the opening balance of equity at 1 April 2018. Therefore, comparative
information has not been restated and continues to be reported under HKASs 11 and 18. As allowed by HKFRS
15, the Group has applied the new requirements only to contracts that were not completed before 1 April 2018.
The Group takes advantage of the practical expedient in paragraph 63 of HKFRS 15 and does not adjust the
consideration for any effects of a significant financing component if the period of financing is 12 months or less.
Further details of the nature and effect of the changes on previous accounting policies are set out below:
(i) Timing of revenue recognition
Previously, revenue arising from the provision of services was recognised over time, whereas revenue from
the sale of goods was generally recognised at a point in time when the risks and rewards of ownership of
the goods had passed to the customers.
Under HKFRS 15, revenue is recognised when the customer obtains control of the promised good or service
in the contract. This may be at a single point in time or over time. HKFRS 15 identifies the following three
situations in which control of the promised good or service is regarded as being transferred over time:
A. When the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the entity’s
performance, as the entity performs;
B. When the entity’s performance creates or enhances an asset (for example work in progress) that the
customer controls as the asset is created or enhanced;
C. When the entity’s performance does not create an asset with an alternative use to the entity and the
entity has an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date.
If the contract terms and the entity’s activities do not fall into any of these 3 situations, then under
HKFRS 15, the entity recognises revenue for the sale of that good or service at a single point in time, being
when control has passed. Transfer of risks and rewards of ownership is only one of the indicators that is
considered in determining when the transfer of control occurs.
68 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(c) Changes in accounting policies (Continued)
(b) HKFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers” (Continued)
(i) Timing of revenue recognition (Continued)
The adoption of HKFRS 15 does not have a significant impact on when the Group recognises revenue from
provision of (i) IT application and solution development services; (ii) IT infrastructure solution services; (iii)
secondment services; and (iv) maintenance and support services (see notes 2(u)(i), 2(u)(ii), 2(u)(iii) and 2(u)
(iv)).
(ii) Presentation of contract assets and liabilities
Under HKFRS 15, a receivable is recognised only if the Group has an unconditional right to consideration.
If the Group recognises the related revenue (see note 2(u)) before being unconditionally entitled to the
consideration for the promised goods and services in the contract, then the entitlement to consideration
is classified as a contract asset. Similarly, a contract liability, rather than a payable, is recognised when
a customer pays non-refundable consideration, or is contractually required to pay non-refundable
consideration and the amount is already due, before the Group recognises the related revenue. For a single
contract with the customer, either a net contract asset or a net contract liability is presented. For multiple
contracts, contract assets and contract liabilities of unrelated contracts are not presented on a net basis
(see note 2(k)).
Previously, contract balances relating to contracts in progress were presented in the consolidated statement
of financial position under “trade and other receivables” or “trade and other payables” respectively, and the
revenue was recognised for the reasons explained in paragraph (i) above.
To reflect these changes in presentation, the Group has made the following adjustments at 1 April 2018, as
a result of the adoption of HKFRS 15:
(i) “Gross amounts due from customers for contract work” amounting to HK$30,382,000, which were
previously included in trade and other receivables (note 19) are now included under contract assets
(note 18); and
(ii) “Gross amounts due to customers for contract work” and “customers’ deposits received” amounting
to HK$168,000 and HK$7,279,000 respectively, which were previously included in trade and other
payables (note 22) are now included under contract liabilities (note 18).
(iii) Disclosure of estimated impact on the amounts reported in respect of the year ended 31 March 2019 as a
result of the adoption of HKFRS 15 on 1 April 2018
The following tables summarise the estimated impact of adoption of HKFRS 15 on the Group’s consolidated
financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2019, by comparing the amounts reported under HKFRS
15 in these consolidated financial statements with estimates of the hypothetical amounts that would have
been recognised under HKAS 18 and HKAS 11 if those superseded standards had continued to apply to
2019 instead of HKFRS 15. These tables show only those line items impacted by the adoption of HKFRS 15:
69Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(c) Changes in accounting policies (Continued)
(b) HKFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers” (Continued)
(iii) Disclosure of estimated impact on the amounts reported in respect of the year ended 31 March 2019 as a
result of the adoption of HKFRS 15 on 1 April 2018 (Continued)
Difference: Amounts Estimated reported in Hypothetical impact of accordance amounts adoption of with under HKSAs HKFRS 15 on HKFRS 15 18 and 11 31 March 2019 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Line items in the consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 March 2019 impacted by the adoption of HKFRS 15:Contract assets 4,483 – 4,483
Gross amount due from customers for contract work – 4,483 (4,483)
Total current assets 242,440 242,440 –
Contract liabilities 10,489 – 10,489
Gross amount due to customers for contract work – 954 (954)
Customers’ deposits received – 9,535 (9,535)
Total current liabilities 116,683 116,683 –
Net current assets 125,757 125,757 –
Total assets less current liabilities 392,820 392,820 –
Net assets 339,886 339,886 –
Reserves 316,077 316,077 –
Equity attributable to equity shareholders of the Company 327,818 327,818 –
Total equity 339,886 339,886 –
Line items in the reconciliation of profit before taxation to net cash generated from operating activities for the year ended 31 March 2019 impacted by the adoption of HKFRS 15:Profit before taxation 96,918 96,918 —
Increase in trade and other receivables (55,012) (29,113) (25,899)
Decrease in contract assets 25,899 – 25,899
Increase in trade and other payables 27,357 30,399 (3,042)
Increase in contract liabilities 3,042 – 3,042
70 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(c) Changes in accounting policies (Continued)
(b) HKFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers” (Continued)
(iii) Disclosure of estimated impact on the amounts reported in respect of the year ended 31 March 2019 as a
result of the adoption of HKFRS 15 on 1 April 2018 (Continued)
The significant differences arise as a result of the changes in accounting policies described above.
There is no estimated impact of adoption of HKFRS 15 on the Group’s consolidated statement of profit
or loss and the Group’s consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income by
comparing the amounts reported under HKFRS 15 in these consolidated financial statements with the
estimates of the hypothetical amounts that would have been recognised under HKAS 18 if that superseded
standard had continued to apply to 2019 instead of HKFRS 15.
(c) HK(IFRIC) Int-22 “Foreign currency transactions and advance consideration”
This interpretation provides guidance on determining “the date of the transaction” for the purpose of determining
the exchange rate to use on initial recognition of the related asset, expense or income (or part of it) arising from a
transaction in which an entity receives or pays advance consideration in a foreign currency.
The interpretation clarifies that “the date of the transaction” is the date on initial recognition of the non-
monetary asset or liability arising from the payment or receipt of advance consideration. If there are multiple
payments or receipts in advance of recognising the related item, the date of the transaction for each payment or
receipt should be determined in this way. The adoption of HK(IFRIC) Int-22 does not have any material impact on
the financial position and the financial result of the Group.
The Group has not applied any new standard or interpretation that is not yet effective for the current accounting period.
71Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(d) Subsidiaries and non-controlling interests
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed, or has rights, to
variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over
the entity. When assessing whether the Group has power, only substantive rights (held by the Group and other parties)
are considered.
An investment in a subsidiary is consolidated into the consolidated financial statements from the date that control
commences until the date that control ceases. Intra-group balances, transactions and cash flows and any unrealised
profits arising from intra-group transactions are eliminated in full in preparing the consolidated financial statements.
Unrealised losses resulting from intra-group transactions are eliminated in the same way as unrealised gains but only to
the extent that there is no evidence of impairment.
Non-controlling interests represent the equity in a subsidiary not attributable directly or indirectly to the Company,
and in respect of which the Group has not agreed any additional terms with the holders of those interests which would
result in the Group as a whole having a contractual obligation in respect of those interests that meets the definition of a
financial liability. For each business combination, the Group can elect to measure any non-controlling interests either at
fair value or at the non-controlling interests’ proportionate share of the subsidiary’s net identifiable assets.
Non-controlling interests are presented in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, separately
from equity attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company. Non-controlling interests in the results of the
Group are presented on the face of the consolidated statement of profit or loss and the consolidated statement of profit
or loss and other comprehensive income as an allocation of the total profit or loss and total comprehensive income for
the year between non-controlling interests and the equity shareholders of the Company. Loans from holders of non-
controlling interests and other contractual obligations towards these holders are presented as financial liabilities in
the consolidated statement of financial position in accordance with notes 2(n) or (o) depending on the nature of the
liability.
Changes in the Group’s interests in a subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as equity
transactions, whereby adjustments are made to the amounts of controlling and non-controlling interests within
consolidated equity to reflect the change in relative interests, but no gain or loss is recognised.
When the Group loses control of a subsidiary, it is accounted for as a disposal of the entire interest in that subsidiary,
with a resulting gain or loss being recognised in profit or loss. Any interest retained in that former subsidiary at the date
when control is lost is recognised at fair value and this amount is regarded as the fair value on initial recognition of a
financial asset or, when appropriate, the cost on initial recognition of an investment in an associate or joint venture.
In the Company’s statement of financial position, an investment in a subsidiary is stated at cost less impairment losses
(see note 2(j)(iii)), unless the investment is classified as held for sale (or included in a disposal group that is classified as
held for sale).
72 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(e) Associates and joint ventures
An associate is an entity in which the Group has significant influence, but not control or joint control, over its
management, including participation in the financial and operating policy decisions.
A joint venture is an arrangement whereby the Group or the Company and other parties contractually agree to share
control of the arrangement, and have rights to the net assets of the arrangement.
An investment in an associate or a joint venture is accounted for in the consolidated financial statements under the
equity method, unless it is classified as held for sale (or included in a disposal group that is classified as held for sale).
Under the equity method, the investment is initially recorded at cost, adjusted for any excess of the Group’s share
of the acquisition-date fair values of the investee’s identifiable net assets over the cost of the investment (if any).
Thereafter, the investment is adjusted for the post acquisition change in the Group’s share of the investee’s net assets
and any impairment loss relating to the investment (see note 2(j)(iii)). Any acquisition-date excess over cost, the Group’s
share of the post-acquisition, post-tax results of the investees and any impairment losses for the year are recognised
in the consolidated statement of profit or loss, whereas the Group’s share of the post-acquisition post-tax items of
the investees’ other comprehensive income is recognised in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other
comprehensive income.
On the acquisition of an interest in an associate or a joint venture, any excess of the cost of the investment over the
Group’s share of the net fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of the investee is recognised as goodwill,
which is included within the carrying amount of the investment. Any excess of the Group’s share of the net fair value
of the identifiable assets and liabilities over the cost of the investment, after reassessment, is recognised immediately in
profit or loss in the period in which the investment is acquired.
When the Group’s share of losses exceeds its interest in the associate or the joint venture, the Group’s interest is
reduced to nil and recognition of further losses is discontinued except to the extent that the Group has incurred legal
or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the investee. For this purpose, the Group’s interest is the
carrying amount of the investment under the equity method together with the Group’s long-term interests that in
substance form part of the Group’s net investment in the associate or the joint venture.
Unrealised profits and losses resulting from transactions between the Group and its associates and joint ventures are
eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in the investee, except where unrealised losses provide evidence of an
impairment of the asset transferred, in which case they are recognised immediately in profit or loss.
If an investment in an associate becomes an investment in a joint venture or vice versa, retained interest is not
remeasured. Instead, the investment continues to be accounted for under the equity method.
In all other cases, when the Group ceases to have significant influence over an associate or a joint control over a joint
venture, it is accounted for as a disposal of the entire interest in that investee, with a resulting gain or loss being
recognised in profit or loss. Any interest retained in that former investee at the date when significant influence or joint
control is lost is recognised at fair value and this amount is regarded as the fair value on initial recognition of a financial
asset (see note 2(i)).
73Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(f) Property, plant and equipment
The following items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment
losses (see note 2(j)(iii)):
– Land classified as being held under finance lease and buildings thereon (see note 2(h)); and
– Other items of plant and equipment
Gains or losses arising from the retirement or disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment are determined as
the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the item and are recognised in profit or
loss on the date of retirement or disposal.
Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost of items of property, plant and equipment, less their estimated residual
value, if any, using the straight line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:
– Leasehold land classified as held under finance leases Over the unexpired term of lease
– Buildings situated on leasehold land Over the shorter of the unexpired term of lease
and their estimated useful lives
– Leasehold improvements 5-10 years
– Computer equipment 4 years
– Furniture and other office equipment 4–5 years
– Motor vehicles 4 years
Where parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, the cost of the item is allocated
on a reasonable basis between the parts and each part is depreciated separately. Both the useful life of an asset and its
residual value, if any, are reviewed annually.
74 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(g) Intangible assets
Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred. Expenditure on
development activities is capitalised if the product or process is technically and commercially feasible and the Group
has sufficient resources and the intention to complete development. The expenditure capitalised includes the costs of
materials, direct labour, and an appropriate proportion of overheads and borrowing costs, where applicable (see note
2(w)). Capitalised development costs are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses (see note
2(j)(iii)). Other development expenditure is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred.
Other intangible assets that are acquired by the Group are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation (where the
estimated useful life is finite) and impairment losses (see note 2(j)(iii)). Expenditure on internally generated goodwill and
brands is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred.
Amortisation of intangible assets with finite useful lives is charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the
assets’ estimated useful lives. The acquired computer software with finite useful lives is amortised from the date they
are available for use and their estimated useful lives of 4 years.
Both the period and method of amortisation are reviewed annually.
(h) Leased assetsAn arrangement, comprising a transaction or a series of transactions, is or contains a lease if the Group determines that
the arrangement conveys a right to use a specific asset or assets for an agreed period of time in return for a payment or
a series of payments. Such a determination is made based on an evaluation of the substance of the arrangement and is
regardless of whether the arrangement takes the legal form of a lease.
(i) Classification of assets leased to the Group
Assets that are held by the Group under leases which transfer to the Group substantially all the risks and rewards
of ownership are classified as being held under finance leases. Leases which do not transfer substantially all the
risks and rewards of ownership to the Group are classified as operating leases, with the following exception:
Land held for own use under an operating lease, the fair value of which cannot be measured separately from
the fair value of a building situated thereon at the inception of the lease, is accounted for as being held under a
finance lease, unless the building is also clearly held under an operating lease. For these purposes, the inception of
the lease is the time that the lease was first entered into by the Group, or taken over from the previous lessee.
75Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(h) Leased assets (Continued)
(ii) Assets acquired under finance leases
Where the Group acquires the use of assets under finance leases, the amounts representing the fair value of
the leased asset, or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments, of such assets are recognised
in property, plant and equipment and the corresponding liabilities, net of finance charges, are recorded as
obligations under finance leases. Depreciation is provided at rates which write off the cost of the assets over the
term of the relevant lease or, where it is likely the Group will obtain ownership of the asset, the life of the asset,
as set out in note 2(f). Impairment losses are accounted for in accordance with the accounting policy as set out
in note 2(j)(iii). Finance charges implicit in the lease payments are charged to profit or loss over the period of
the leases so as to produce an approximately constant periodic rate of charge on the remaining balance of the
obligations for each accounting period. Contingent rentals are charged to profit or loss in the accounting period
in which they are incurred.
(iii) Operating lease charges
Where the Group has the use of assets held under operating leases, payments made under the leases are charged
to profit or loss in equal instalments over the accounting periods covered by the lease term, except where an
alternative basis is more representative of the pattern of benefits to be derived from the leased asset. Lease
incentives received are recognised in profit or loss as an integral part of the aggregate net lease payments made.
Contingent rentals are charged to profit or loss in the accounting period in which they are incurred.
(i) Other investment in equity securityThe Group’s policies for investment in equity security, other than investments in subsidiaries and associate, are set out
below.
Investment in equity security is recognised/derecognised on the date the Group commits to purchase/sell the
investment. The investment is initially stated at fair value plus directly attributable transaction costs, except for that
investment measured at FVPL for which transaction costs are recognised directly in profit or loss. For an explanation of
how the Group determines fair value of financial instruments, see note 28(f). This investment is subsequently accounted
for as follows, depending on its classification.
(A) Policy applicable from 1 April 2018
Equity investmentAn investment in equity security is classified as FVPL unless the equity investment is not held for trading purposes
and on initial recognition of the investment the Group makes an election to designate the investment at FVOCI
(non-recycling) such that subsequent changes in fair value are recognised in other comprehensive income. Such
elections are made on an instrument-by-instrument basis, but may only be made if the investment meets the
definition of equity from the issuer’s perspective. Where such an election is made, the amount accumulated in
other comprehensive income remains in the fair value reserve (non-recycling) until the investment is disposed of.
At the time of disposal, the amount accumulated in the fair value reserve (non-recycling) is transferred to retained
profits. It is not recycled through profit or loss. Dividends from an investment in equity securities, irrespective of
whether classified as at FVPL or FVOCI, are recognised in profit or loss as other income.
76 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(i) Other investment in equity security (Continued)
(B) Policy applicable prior to 1 April 2018
Investment which did not fall into financial asset measured at FVPL or held-to-maturity security was classified
as available-for-sale financial asset. At the end of each reporting period, the fair value was remeasured with any
resultant gain or loss being recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated separately in equity in
the fair value reserve (non-recycling). Dividend income from equity investment was recognised in profit or loss.
When the investment was derecognised or impaired (see note 2(j)(i) – policy applicable prior to 1 April 2018), the
cumulative gain or loss recognised in equity was reclassified to profit or loss.
(j) Credit losses and impairment of assets
(i) Credit losses from financial instruments
(A) Policy applicable from 1 April 2018
The Group recognises a loss allowance for expected credit losses (ECLs) on the following items:
– financial assets measured at amortised cost (including cash and cash equivalents, trade and other
receivables, contract assets, deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary and pledged bank deposits); and
– equity security measured at FVOCI (non-recycling).
Measurement of ECLsECLs are a probability-weighted estimate of credit losses. Credit losses are measured as the present value of
all expected cash shortfalls (that is, the difference between the cash flows due to the Group in accordance
with the contract and the cash flows that the Group expects to receive).
For undrawn loan commitments, expected cash shortfalls are measured as the difference between (i) the
contractual cash flows that would be due to the Group if the holder of the loan commitment draws down
on the loan and (ii) the cash flows that the Group expects to receive if the loan is drawn down.
The expected cash shortfalls are discounted using the following discount rates where the effect of
discounting is material:
– fixed-rate financial assets: effective interest rate determined at initial recognition or an
approximation thereof; and
– variable-rate financial assets: current effective interest rate.
The maximum period considered when estimating ECLs is the maximum contractual period over which the
Group is exposed to credit risk.
In measuring ECLs, the Group takes into account reasonable and supportable information that is available
without undue cost or effort. This includes information about past events, current conditions and forecasts
of future economic conditions.
77Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(j) Credit losses and impairment of assets (Continued)
(i) Credit losses from financial instruments (Continued)
(A) Policy applicable from 1 April 2018 (Continued)
Measurement of ECLs (Continued)ECLs are measured on either of the following bases:
– 12-month ECLs: these are losses that are expected to result from possible default events within the
12 months after the reporting date; and
– lifetime ECLs: these are losses that are expected to result from all possible default events over the
expected lives of the items to which the ECL model applies.
Loss allowances for trade debtors and contract assets are always measured at an amount equal to lifetime
ECLs. ECLs on these financial assets are estimated using a provision matrix based on the Group’s historical
credit loss experience, adjusted for factors that are specific to the debtors and an assessment of both the
current and forecast general economic conditions at the reporting date.
For all other financial instruments (including loan commitments issued), the Group recognises a loss
allowance equal to 12-month ECLs unless there has been a significant increase in credit risk of the financial
instrument since initial recognition, in which case the loss allowance is measured at an amount equal to
lifetime ECLs.
Significant increases in credit riskIn assessing whether the credit risk of a financial instrument has increased significantly since initial
recognition, the Group compares the risk of default occurring on the financial instrument assessed at the
reporting date with that assessed at the date of initial recognition. In making this reassessment, the Group
considers that a default event occurs when (i) the borrower is unlikely to pay its credit obligations to the
Group in full, without recourse by the Group to actions such as realising security (if any is held); or (ii) the
financial asset is 90 days past due. The Group considers both quantitative and qualitative information that
is reasonable and supportable, including historical experience and forward-looking information that is
available without undue cost or effort.
In particular, the following information is taken into account when assessing whether credit risk has
increased significantly since initial recognition:
78 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(j) Credit losses and impairment of assets (Continued)
(i) Credit losses from financial instruments (Continued)
(A) Policy applicable from 1 April 2018 (Continued)
Significant increases in credit risk (Continued)
– failure to make payments of principal or interest on their contractually due dates;
– an actual or expected significant deterioration in a financial instrument’s external or internal credit
rating (if available);
– an actual or expected significant deterioration in the operating results of the debtor; and
– existing or forecast changes in the technological, market, economic or legal environment that have a
significant adverse effect on the debtor’s ability to meet its obligation to the Group.
Depending on the nature of the financial instruments, the assessment of a significant increase in credit
risk is performed on either an individual basis or a collective basis. When the assessment is performed on
a collective basis, the financial instruments are grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics, such as
past due status and credit risk ratings.
ECLs are remeasured at each reporting date to reflect changes in the financial instrument’s credit risk since
initial recognition. Any change in the ECL amount is recognised as an impairment gain or loss in profit or
loss. The Group recognises an impairment gain or loss for all financial instruments with a corresponding
adjustment to their carrying amount through a loss allowance account, except for investments in equity
security that is measured at FVOCI (non-recycling), for which the loss allowance is recognised in other
comprehensive income and accumulated in the fair value reserve (non-recycling).
79Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(j) Credit losses and impairment of assets (Continued)
(i) Credit losses from financial instruments (Continued)
(A) Policy applicable from 1 April 2018 (Continued)
Basis of calculation of interest incomeInterest income recognised in accordance with note 2(u)(v) is calculated based on the gross carrying
amount of the financial asset unless the financial asset is credit-impaired, in which case interest income
is calculated based on the amortised cost (that is, the gross carrying amount less loss allowance) of the
financial asset.
At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether a financial asset is credit-impaired. A financial asset
is credit-impaired when one or more events that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future cash
flows of the financial asset have occurred.
Evidence that a financial asset is credit-impaired includes the following observable events:
– significant financial difficulties of the debtor;
– a breach of contract, such as a default or delinquency in interest or principal payments;
– it becoming probable that the borrower will enter into bankruptcy or other financial reorganisation;
– significant changes in the technological, market, economic or legal environment that have an adverse
effect on the debtor; or
– the disappearance of an active market for a security because of financial difficulties of the issuer.
Write-off policyThe gross carrying amount of a financial asset is written off (either partially or in full) to the extent that
there is no realistic prospect of recovery. This is generally the case when the Group determines that the
debtor does not have assets or sources of income that could generate sufficient cash flows to repay the
amounts subject to the write-off.
Subsequent recoveries of an asset that was previously written off are recognised as a reversal of
impairment in profit or loss in the period in which the recovery occurs.
80 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(j) Credit losses and impairment of assets (Continued)
(i) Credit losses from financial instruments (Continued)
(B) Policy applicable prior to 1 April 2018
Prior to 1 April 2018, an “incurred loss” model was used to measure impairment losses on financial assets
not classified as at FVPL (e.g. trade and other receivables, deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary and
available-for-sale investment). Under the “incurred loss” model, an impairment loss was recognised only
when there was objective evidence of impairment. Objective evidence of impairment included:
– significant financial difficulties of the debtor;
– a breach of contract, such as a default or delinquency in interest or principal payments;
– it becoming probable that the borrower will enter into bankruptcy or other financial reorganisation;
– significant changes in the technological, market, economic or legal environment that have an adverse
effect on the debtor; or
– a significant or prolonged decline in fair value of an investment in an equity instrument below its
cost.
If any such evidence existed, an impairment loss was determined and recognised as follows:
– For trade and other receivables and deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary carried at amortised
cost, impairment loss was measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the
present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the financial asset’s original effective
interest rate, where the effect of discounting was material. This assessment was made collectively
where these financial assets shared similar risk characteristics, such as similar past due status, and
had not been individually assessed as impaired. Future cash flows for financial assets which were
assessed for impairment collectively were based on historical loss experience for assets with credit
risk characteristics similar to the collective group.
If in a subsequent period the amount of an impairment loss decreased and the decrease could be
linked objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised, the impairment
loss was reversed through profit or loss. A reversal of an impairment loss was only recognised to the
extent that it did not result in the asset’s carrying amount exceeding that which would have been
determined had no impairment loss been recognised in prior years.
When the recovery of financial assets carried at amortised cost was considered doubtful but not
remote, associated impairment losses were recorded using an allowance account. When the Group
was satisfied that recovery was remote, the amount considered irrecoverable was written off against
the gross carrying amount of those assets directly. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously
charged to the allowance account were reversed against the allowance account. Other changes in
the allowance account and subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off directly were
recognised in profit or loss.
81Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(j) Credit losses and impairment of assets (Continued)
(i) Credit losses from financial instruments (Continued)
(B) Policy applicable prior to 1 April 2018 (Continued)
– For unquoted equity securities carried at cost, the impairment loss is measured as the difference
between the carrying amount of the financial asset and the estimated future cash flows, discounted
at the current market rate of return for a similar financial asset where the effect of discounting is
material. Impairment losses for equity securities carried at cost are not reversed.
(ii) Credit losses from financial guarantee issued
Financial guarantees are contracts that require the issuer (i.e. the guarantor) to make specified payments to
reimburse the beneficiary of the guarantee (the “holder”) for a loss the holder incurs because a specified debtor
fails to make payment when due in accordance with the terms of a debt instrument.
Financial guarantees issued are initially recognised within “trade and other payables” at fair value, which
is determined by reference to fees charged in an arm’s length transaction for similar services, when such
information is obtainable, or to interest rate differentials, by comparing the actual rates charged by lenders when
the guarantee is made available with the estimated rates that lenders would have charged, had the guarantees
not been available, where reliable estimates of such information can be made. Where consideration is received
or receivable for the issuance of the guarantee, the consideration is recognised in accordance with the Group’s
policies applicable to that category of asset. Where no such consideration is received or receivable, an immediate
expense is recognised in profit or loss.
Subsequent to initial recognition, the amount initially recognised as deferred income is amortised in profit or loss
over the term of the guarantee as income from financial guarantees issued.
(A) Policy applicable from 1 April 2018
The Group monitors the risk that the specified debtor will default on the contract and recognises a
provision when ECLs on the financial guarantees are determined to be higher than the amount carried
in “trade and other payables” in respect of the guarantees (i.e. the amount initially recognised, less
accumulated amortisation).
To determine ECLs, the Group considers changes in the risk of default of the specified debtor since the
issuance of the guarantee. A 12-month ECL is measured unless the risk that the specified debtor will default
has increased significantly since the guarantee is issued, in which case a lifetime ECL is measured. The same
definition of default and the same assessment of significant increase in credit risk as described in note 2(j)(i)
apply.
As the Group is required to make payments only in the event of a default by the specified debtor in
accordance with the terms of the instrument that is guaranteed, an ECL is estimated based on the expected
payments to reimburse the holder for a credit loss that it incurs less any amount that the Group expects
to receive from the holder of the guarantee, the specified debtor or any other party. The amount is then
discounted using the current risk-free rate adjusted for risks specific to the cash flows.
82 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(j) Credit losses and impairment of assets (Continued)
(ii) Credit losses from financial guarantee issued (Continued)
(B) Policy applicable prior to 1 April 2018
Prior to 1 April 2018, a provision would be recognised if and when it became probable that (i) the holder
of the guarantee would call upon the Group under the guarantee and (ii) the amount of the claim on the
Group was expected to exceed the amount carried in “trade and other payables” in respect of the guarantee.
(iii) Impairment of other non-current assets
Internal and external sources of information are reviewed at the end of each reporting period to identify
indications that the following assets may be impaired:
– property, plant and equipment;
– intangible assets;
– interests in associates;
– interests in joint ventures; and
– investments in subsidiaries in the Company’s statement of financial position
If any such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated.
– Calculation of recoverable amount
The recoverable amount of an asset is the greater of its fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. In
assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-
tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific
to the asset. Where an asset does not generate cash inflows largely independent of those from other
assets, the recoverable amount is determined for the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows
independently (that is, a cash-generating unit).
– Recognition of impairment losses
An impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss if the carrying amount of an asset, or the cash-generating
unit to which it belongs, exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses recognised in respect of cash-
generating units are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the cash-
generating unit (or group of units) and then, to reduce the carrying amount of the other assets in the unit
(or group of units) on a pro rata basis, except that the carrying value of an asset will not be reduced below
its individual fair value less costs of disposal (if measurable) or value in use (if determinable).
83Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(j) Credit losses and impairment of assets (Continued)
(iii) Impairment of other non-current assets (Continued)– Reversal of impairment losses
In respect of assets other than goodwill, an impairment loss is reversed if there has been a favourable change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed.
A reversal of an impairment loss is limited to the asset’s carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised in prior years. Reversals of impairment losses are credited to profit or loss in the year in which the reversals are recognised.
(iv) Interim financial reporting and impairmentUnder the Listing Rules, the Group is required to prepare an interim financial report in compliance with HKAS 34 “Interim financial reporting”, in respect of the first six months of the financial year. At the end of the interim period, the Group applies the same impairment testing, recognition, and reversal criteria as it would at the end of the financial year (see notes 2(j)(i), (ii) and (iii)).
(k) Contract assets and contract liabilitiesA contract asset is recognised when the Group recognises revenue (see note 2(u)) before being unconditionally entitled to the consideration under the payment terms set out in the contract. Contract assets are assessed for expected credit losses (ECL) in accordance with the policy set out in note 2(j)(i) and are reclassified to receivables when the right to the consideration has become unconditional (see note 2(l)).
A contract liability is recognised when the customer pays consideration before the Group recognises the related revenue (see note 2(u)). A contract liability would also be recognised if the Group has an unconditional right to receive consideration before the Group recognises the related revenue. In such cases, a corresponding receivable would also be recognised (see note 2(l)).
For a single contract with the customer, either a net contract asset or a net contract liability is presented. For multiple contracts, contract assets and contract liabilities of unrelated contracts are not presented on a net basis.
When the contract includes a significant financing component, the contract balance includes interest accrued under the effective interest method.
(l) Trade and other receivablesA receivable is recognised when the Group has an unconditional right to receive consideration. A right to receive consideration is unconditional if only the passage of time is required before payment of that consideration is due. If revenue has been recognised before the Group has an unconditional right to receive consideration, the amount is presented as a contract asset.
Receivables that are held for collection of contractual cash flows where those case flows represent solely payments of principal and interest, and that are not designated at FVPL, are measured at amortised cost and are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method less allowance for credit losses (see note 2(j)(i)).
84 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(m) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other financial
institutions, and short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash
and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value, having been within three months of maturity at
acquisition. Cash and cash equivalents are assessed for expected credit losses (ECL) in accordance with the policy set out
in note 2(j)(i).
(n) Other financial liabilities
(i) Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are initially recognised at fair value and are subsequently stated at amortised cost unless
the effect of discounting would be immaterial, in which case they are stated at cost.
(ii) Contingent consideration
Share-settled contingent consideration arrangements are classified as financial liabilities where the number of
shares to be issued in settlement varies. They are recognised initially at fair value. At the end of each reporting
period the fair value is remeasured. The gain or loss on remeasurement to fair value is recognised immediately in
profit or loss.
(o) Interest-bearing borrowingsInterest-bearing borrowings are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial
recognition, interest-bearing borrowings are stated at amortised cost with any difference between the amount initially
recognised and redemption value being recognised in profit or loss over the period of the borrowings, together with any
interest and fees payable, using the effective interest method.
(p) Derivative financial instrumentsDerivative financial instruments are recognised at fair value. At the end of each reporting period the fair value is
remeasured. The gain or loss on remeasurement to fair value is recognised immediately in profit or loss, except where
the derivatives qualify for cash flow hedge accounting or hedges of net investment in a foreign operation, in which case
recognition of any resultant gain or loss depends on the nature of the item being hedged.
(q) Convertible bondsA conversion option that will be settled other than by the exchange of a fixed amount of cash or another financial asset
for a fixed number of the Group’s own equity instruments is accounted for as derivative.
At the date of issue, both the debt component and derivative components (see note 2(p)) are recognised at fair value.
In subsequent periods, the debt component of the convertible bonds is carried at amortised cost using the effective
interest method. The derivative component is measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in profit
or loss. Transaction costs that relate to the issue of the convertible bond are allocated to the liability and derivative
components in proportion to their relative fair values. Transaction costs relating to the derivative component are
charged to profit or loss immediately. Transaction costs relating to the liability component are included in the carrying
amount of the liability portion and amortised over the period of the convertible bonds using the effective interest
method.
85Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(q) Convertible bonds (Continued)
If the bonds are converted, the shares issued are measured at fair value and any difference between the fair value of
shares issued and the carrying amounts of the derivative and liability components are recognised in profit or loss. If
the bonds are redeemed, any difference between the amount paid and the carrying amounts of both components is
recognised in profit or loss.
(r) Employee benefits
(i) Short term employee benefits and contributions to defined contribution retirement plans
Salaries, annual bonuses, paid annual leave, contributions to defined contribution retirement plans and the cost of
non-monetary benefits are accrued in the year in which the associated services are rendered by employees. Where
payment or settlement is deferred and the effect would be material, these amounts are stated at their present
values.
(ii) Termination benefits
Termination benefits are recognised at the earlier of when the group can no longer withdraw the offer of those
benefits and when it recognises restructuring costs involving the payment of termination benefits.
(s) Income taxIncome tax for the year comprises current tax and movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Current tax and
movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised in profit or loss except to the extent that they relate to
items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case the relevant amounts of tax are
recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.
Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the reporting period, using tax rates enacted or
substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities arise from deductible and taxable temporary differences respectively, being the
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their tax bases.
Deferred tax assets also arise from unused tax losses and unused tax credits.
86 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(s) Income tax (Continued)
Apart from certain limited exceptions, all deferred tax liabilities, and all deferred tax assets to the extent that it is
probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilised, are recognised. Future
taxable profits that may support the recognition of deferred tax assets arising from deductible temporary differences
include those that will arise from the reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, provided those differences
relate to the same taxation authority and the same taxable entity, and are expected to reverse either in the same period
as the expected reversal of the deductible temporary difference or in periods into which a tax loss arising from the
deferred tax asset can be carried back or forward. The same criteria are adopted when determining whether existing
taxable temporary differences support the recognition of deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses and credits,
that is, those differences are taken into account if they relate to the same taxation authority and the same taxable
entity, and are expected to reverse in a period, or periods, in which the tax loss or credit can be utilised.
The limited exceptions to recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities are those temporary differences arising from
the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit (provided they are not part
of a business combination), and temporary differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that, in the
case of taxable differences, the Group controls the timing of the reversal and it is probable that the differences will not
reverse in the foreseeable future, or in the case of deductible differences, unless it is probable that they will reverse in
the future.
The amount of deferred tax recognised is measured based on the expected manner of realisation or settlement of the
carrying amount of the asset and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting
period. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.
The carrying amount of a deferred tax asset is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and is reduced to the extent
that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow the related tax benefit to be utilised.
Any such reduction is reversed to the extent that it becomes probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available.
Current tax balances and deferred tax balances, and movements therein, are presented separately from each other and
are not offset. Current tax assets are offset against current tax liabilities, and deferred tax assets against deferred tax
liabilities, if the Company or the Group has the legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax
liabilities and the following additional conditions are met:
– in the case of current tax assets and liabilities, the Company or the Group intends either to settle on a net basis, or
to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously; or
– in the case of deferred tax assets and liabilities, if they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation
authority on either:
– the same taxable entity; or
– different taxable entities, which, in each future period in which significant amounts of deferred tax
liabilities or assets are expected to be settled or recovered, intend to realise the current tax assets and settle
the current tax liabilities on a net basis or realise and settle simultaneously.
87Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(t) Provisions and contingent liabilities
Provisions are recognised for liabilities of uncertain timing or amount when the Group or the Company has a legal
or constructive obligation arising as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will
be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made. Where the time value of money is material,
provisions are stated at the present value of the expenditure expected to settle the obligation.
Where it is not probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required, or the amount cannot be estimated
reliably, the obligation is disclosed as a contingent liability, unless the probability of outflow of economic benefits is
remote. Possible obligations, whose existence will only be confirmed by the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or
more future events are also disclosed as contingent liabilities unless the probability of outflow of economic benefits is
remote.
(u) Revenue and other revenueIncome is classified by the Group as revenue when it arises from the sale of goods or the provision of services in the
ordinary course of the Group’s business.
Revenue is recognised when control over a product or service is transferred to the customer, at the amount of promised
consideration to which the Group is expected to be entitled, excluding those amounts collected on behalf of third
parties. Revenue excludes value added tax or other sales taxes and is after deduction of any trade discounts.
Where the contract contains a financing component which provides a significant financing benefit to the customer
for more than 12 months, revenue is measured at the present value of the amount receivable, discounted using the
discount rate that would be reflected in a separate financing transaction with the customer, and interest income is
accrued separately under the effective interest method. Where the contract contains a financing component which
provides a significant financing benefit to the Group, revenue recognised under that contract includes the interest
expense accreted on the contract liability under the effective interest method.
Further details of the Group’s revenue and other revenue recognition policies are as follows:
(i) Revenue from IT application and solution development services
For stand-alone sale of IT application and solution development services or when goods are sold together with
significant IT application and solution development services, the goods and services represent a single combined
performance obligation over which control is considered to be transferred over time. This is because the combined
product is unique to each customer (has no alternative use) and the Group has an enforceable right to payment
for work completed to date if the contract is terminated by the customer or another party for reasons other than
the Group’s failure to perform as promised. Revenue for these performance obligations is recognised over time
as the IT application and solution development work is performed, using the cost-to-cost method to estimate
progress towards completion. As costs are generally incurred uniformly as the work progresses and are considered
to be proportionate to the Group’s performance, the cost-to-cost method provides a faithful depiction of the
transfer of goods and services to the customer.
88 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(u) Revenue and other revenue (Continued)
(ii) Revenue from IT infrastructure solution services
For stand-alone sale of goods that are neither customised by the Group nor subject to IT services performed by
the Group, revenue is recognised when the Group transfers control of the goods at the point in time when the
customer takes undisputed delivery of the goods.
For stand-alone sales of IT infrastructure solution services or for sale of goods together with IT infrastructure
solution services which are simple and could be performed by another party, such IT infrastructure solution
service is accounted for as a separate performance obligation. Transaction price will be allocated to each
performance obligation based on their stand-alone selling prices. Where these are not directly observable, they
are estimated based on expected cost plus margin. For sale of goods, revenue is recognised when the Group
transfers control of the goods at the point in time when the customer takes undisputed delivery of the goods. For
IT infrastructure solution services, revenue is recognised when customer acknowledged undisputed completion of
milestones.
(iii) Revenue from secondment services
The Group enters into secondment contracts with its customers to second its staff or subcontractors at a
contracted rate. Revenue is recognised over time based on the manpower utilised by customers.
(iv) Revenue from maintenance and support services
Revenue for maintenance and support services performed by third party suppliers of the goods sold on stand-
alone basis or with simple IT infrastructure solution services is recognised when the Group completed the
procurement for such maintenance and support services.
The Group also performs maintenance and support services itself or together with its subcontractors and enters
into fixed price maintenance contracts with its customers. Customers are required to pay the service fee according
to the due dates specified in each contract. Revenue is recognised over time based on the maintenance service
period.
(v) Interest income
Interest income is recognised as it accrues using the effective interest method.
(vi) Marketing income
Revenue from such services are recognised when related services are rendered.
89Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(v) Translation of foreign currencies
Foreign currency transactions during the year are translated at the foreign exchange rates ruling at the transaction
dates. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the foreign exchange rates
ruling at the end of the reporting period. Exchange gains and losses are recognised in profit or loss.
Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated
using the foreign exchange rates ruling at the transaction dates. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in
foreign currencies that are stated at fair value are translated using the foreign exchange rates ruling at the dates the
fair value was measured.
The results of foreign operations are translated into Hong Kong dollars at the exchange rates approximating the foreign
exchange rates ruling at the dates of the transactions. The statement of financial position items are translated into
Hong Kong dollars at the closing foreign exchange rates at the reporting date. The resulting exchange differences are
recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated separately in equity in the exchange reserve.
On disposal of a foreign operation, the cumulative amount of the exchange differences relating to that foreign
operation is reclassified from equity to profit or loss when the profit or loss on disposal is recognised.
(w) Borrowing costsBorrowing costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of an asset which
necessarily takes a substantial period of time to get ready for its intended use or sale are capitalised as part of the cost
of that asset. Other borrowing costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.
The capitalisation of borrowing costs as part of the cost of a qualifying asset commences when expenditure for the
asset is being incurred, borrowing costs are being incurred and activities that are necessary to prepare the asset for its
intended use or sale are in progress. Capitalisation of borrowing costs is suspended or ceases when substantially all the
activities necessary to prepare the qualifying asset for its intended use or sale are interrupted or complete.
90 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
2. SIgNIFICANT ACCOUNTINg POLICIES (CONTINUED)(x) Related parties
(a) A person, or a close member of that person’s family, is related to the Group if that person:
(i) has control or joint control over the Group;
(ii) has significant influence over the Group; or
(iii) is a member of the key management personnel of the Group or the Group’s parent.
(b) An entity is related to the Group if any of the following conditions applies:
(i) The entity and the Group are members of the same group (which means that each parent, subsidiary and
fellow subsidiary is related to the others).
(ii) One entity is an associate or joint venture of the other entity (or an associate or joint venture of a member
of a Group of which the other entity is a member).
(iii) Both entities are joint ventures of the same third party.
(iv) One entity is a joint venture of a third entity and the other entity is an associate of the third entity.
(v) The entity is a post-employment benefit plan for the benefit of employees of either the Group or an entity
related to the Group.
(vi) The entity is controlled or jointly controlled by a person identified in (a).
(vii) A person identified in (a)(i) has significant influence over the entity or is a member of the key management
personnel of the entity (or of a parent of the entity).
(viii) The entity, or any member of a group of which it is a part, provides key management personnel services to
the Group or to the Group’s parent.
Close members of the family of a person are those family members who may be expected to influence, or be influenced
by, that person in their dealings with the entity.
(y) Segment reportingOperating segments, and the amounts of each segment item reported in the financial statements, are identified from
the financial information provided regularly to the Group’s most senior executive management (i.e. chief operating
decision maker), the board of directors, for the purpose of allocating resources to, and assessing the performance of, the
Group’s various lines of business and geographical locations.
Individually material operating segments are not aggregated for financial reporting purposes unless the segments
have similar economic characteristics and are similar in respect of the nature of products and services, the nature
of production processes, the type or class of customers, the methods used to distribute the products or provide the
services, and the nature of the regulatory environment. Operating segments which are not individually material may be
aggregated if they share a majority of these criteria.
91Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. ACCOUNTINg JUDgEMENT AND ESTIMATESKey sources of estimation uncertainty are as follows:
(a) Impairment for property, plant and equipment and intangible assetsIf circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets may not
be recoverable, the assets may be considered “impaired”, and an impairment loss may be recognised to reduce the
carrying amounts to the recoverable amount in accordance with the accounting policy for impairment of these assets
as described in note 2(j)(iii). These assets are tested for impairment periodically or whenever the events or changes in
circumstances indicate that their recorded carrying amounts may not be recoverable. When such a decline has occurred,
the carrying amount is reduced to recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the greater of the fair value less
costs of disposal and the value in use. In determining the value in use, expected future cash flows generated by the
asset are discounted to their present value, which requires significant judgment relating to level of revenue and amount
of operating costs. The Group uses all readily available information in determining an amount that is a reasonable
approximation of recoverable amount, including estimates based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and
projections of the level of revenue and amount of operating costs. Changes in these estimates could have a significant
impact on the recoverable amount of the assets and could result in additional impairment charge or reversal of
impairment in future periods, where applicable.
(b) Valuation of unlisted equity security measured at FVOCIThe Group assesses the fair value of unlisted equity security measured at FVOCI annually in accordance with HKFRS 9.
Details of the approach are stated in the relevant accounting policies. The assessment requires an estimation for certain
input. Future changes in financial performance and position of the entity would affect the fair value and cause the
adjustments of its carrying amount.
(c) Measurement of the expected credit loss allowance for trade and other receivables, and contract assetsThe measurement of the expected credit loss allowance for trade and other receivables, and contract assets is an area
that requires the use of complex models and significant assumptions about future economic conditions and credit
behavior (the likelihood of debtors defaulting and the resulting losses). Further details are set out in note 28 Credit Risk.
At 31 March 2019, the carrying amounts of trade and other receivables, and contract assets of the Group are
approximately HK$175,856,000 (2018: HK$151,355,000) and approximately HK$4,483,000 (2018: HK$Nil), respectively.
92 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
3. ACCOUNTINg JUDgEMENT AND ESTIMATES (CONTINUED)(d) Revenue recognition
As explained in notes 2(k) and 2(u)(i), revenue recognition on an uncompleted project is dependent on management’s
estimation of the total outcome of the service contract, as well as the work done to date. Based on the Group’s recent
experience and the nature of the services activity undertaken by the Group, the Group makes estimates of the point
at which it considers the work is sufficiently advanced such that the costs to complete and revenue can be reliably
estimated. As a result, until this point is reached the contract assets and contract liabilities as disclosed in note 18, will
not include profit which the Group may eventually realise from the work done to date. In addition, actual outcomes in
terms of total costs or revenue may be higher or lower than estimated at the end of the reporting period, which would
affect the revenue and profit recognised in the future periods as an adjustment to the amounts recorded to date.
The Group reviews and revises the estimates of contract revenue and contract costs prepared for each service contract
as the contract progresses. Budgeted contract costs are prepared by the management based on their experiences. In
order to keep the budget accurate and up-to-date, management conducts periodic reviews of the budgeted contract
costs by comparing the budgeted amounts to the actual costs incurred.
Significant judgement is required in estimating the contract revenue and contract costs which may have an impact on
percentage of completion of the service contracts and the corresponding profit taken.
Management base their judgements of contract costs and revenues on the latest available information. In some cases
the results reflect the expected outcome of long-term contractual obligations which span more than one reporting
period. Contract costs and revenues are affected by a variety of uncertainties that depend on the outcome of future
events and often need to be revised as events unfold and uncertainties are resolved. The estimates of contract costs and
revenues are updated regularly and significant changes are highlighted through established internal review procedures.
The impact of the changes in accounting estimates is then reflected in the ongoing results.
(e) Fair value of contingent consideration payableThe Group has accounted for the contingent consideration payable in the acquisition of an associate and equity security
measured at FVOCI (non-recyling). The number of shares of the Company which would be issued as consideration of the
acquisition is subject to the results of the acquired investee. The Group determines the provision to be made in respect
of the contingent consideration based on the fair value of the shares of the Company at the date of acquisition and the
directors’ best estimate and weighted probability analysis of the future profit of the acquired investee. As the process
requires input of subjective assumptions, any changes to the assumptions can materially affect the provision made.
Subsequent gain or loss in fair value is recognised in profit or loss. As at 31 March 2019, the provision made in respect
of contingent consideration by the Group amounted to approximately HK$10,715,000 (2018: HK$31,268,000) was
included in contingent consideration payable.
93Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. ACCOUNTINg JUDgEMENT AND ESTIMATES (CONTINUED)(f) Fair value of derivative component of convertible bonds
The directors use their judgement in selecting an appropriate valuation technique for financial instruments not quoted in an active market. Valuation techniques commonly used by market practitioners are applied. For derivative components of the convertible bonds, assumptions are made based on quoted market rates adjusted for specific features of the instrument. Details of the assumptions used are disclosed in note 25.
(g) Impairment assessment of interests in associates
Determining whether interests in associates are impaired requires an estimation of the recoverable amount of the associates. The recoverable amount is the greater of fair value less cost of disposal and value in use. The Group engaged external professional valuer in making this assessment. The Group is required to make many assumptions to make this assessment, including the cash flow to be generated, appropriate discount rate and etc. Changes in any of these assumptions could result in a material change to future estimate of the recoverable amount.
4. REVENUE AND SEgMENT REPORTINg(a) Revenue
The principal activities of the Group are the provision of IT application and solution development, IT infrastructure solutions, secondment services, maintenance and support services. The amount of each significant category of revenue is as follows:
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
IT application and solution development
— IT application solution services 23,466 36,207
— Procurement of third party hardware and software 526 2,775
23,992 38,982
IT infrastructure solutions
— IT infrastructure solution services 28,632 39,082
— Procurement of third party hardware and software 398,376 223,672
427,008 262,754
Secondment services 46,083 47,949
Maintenance and support services 98,384 60,250
595,467 409,935
Revenue from a customer arising from the provision of IT application and solution development services, IT
infrastructure solutions and maintenance and support services amounting to approximately HK$135,108,000 accounted
for 10% or more of the Group’s revenue for the year ended 31 March 2019. There was no customer with transactions
exceeded 10% of the Group’s total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2018.
94 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
4. REVENUE AND SEgMENT REPORTINg (CONTINUED)(b) Segment reporting
The Group manages its businesses by business lines. In a manner consistent with the way in which information is
reported internally to the Group’s most senior executive management, the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), for
the purposes of resource allocation and performance assessment, the Group has presented the following four reportable
segments. No operating segments have been aggregated to form the following reportable segments.
– IT application and solution development: this segment provides design and implementation of IT application
solution services and procurement of third party hardware and software.
– IT infrastructure solutions: this segment provides IT infrastructure solutions services and sale of IT infrastructure
solution related hardware and software.
– Secondment services: this segment provides secondment services for a fixed period of time pursuant to the
secondment service agreements.
– Maintenance and support services: this segment provides maintenance and support services.
(i) Segment results, assets and liabilities
For the purposes of assessing segment performance and allocating resources between segments, the Group’s
CODM monitors the results attributable to each reportable segment on the following bases:
Revenue and expenses are allocated to the reportable segments with reference to revenue generated by those
segments and the expenses incurred by those segments. The measure used for reporting segment profit is gross
profit. No inter-segment sales have occurred during the year. The Group’s other income and expense items, such
as general and administrative expenses, and assets and liabilities are not measured under individual segments.
Accordingly, neither information on segment assets and liabilities nor information concerning capital expenditure,
depreciation and amortisation, interest income and interest expenses is presented.
95Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
4. REVENUE AND SEgMENT REPORTINg (CONTINUED)(b) Segment reporting (Continued)
(i) Segment results, assets and liabilities (Continued)
Disaggregate of revenue from contracts with customers by the timing of revenue recognition, as well as
information regarding the Group’s reportable segments as provided to the Group’s CODM for the purposes of
resource allocation and assessment of segment performance for the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018 is set
out below.
Year ended 31 March 2019 IT application IT Maintenances and solution infrastructure Secondment and support development solutions services service Total HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Disaggregated by timing of
revenue recognition
– Point in time – 427,008 – 29,987 456,995 – Over time 23,992 – 46,083 68,397 138,472
Revenue from external customers
and reportable segment revenue 23,992 427,008 46,083 98,384 595,467
Reportable segment gross profit 13,379 43,990 13,313 26,723 97,405
Year ended 31 March 2018
IT application IT Maintenances
and solution infrastructure Secondment and support
development solutions services service Total
HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Disaggregated by timing of
revenue recognition
– Point in time – 262,754 – 36,707 299,461
– Over time 38,982 – 47,949 23,543 110,474
Revenue from external customers
and reportable segment revenue 38,982 262,754 47,949 60,250 409,935
Reportable segment gross profit 1,185 24,848 12,582 10,099 48,714
96 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
4. REVENUE AND SEgMENT REPORTINg (CONTINUED)(b) Segment reporting (Continued)
(ii) Geographic information
The following table sets out information about the geographical location of the Group’s revenue from external
customers and the Group’s property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (“specified non-current assets“). The geographical location of customers is based on the location at which the services were provided or the goods
delivered. The geographical location of the specified non-current assets is based on the physical location of the
asset, in the case of property, plant and equipment, and the location of the operation, in the case of intangible
assets.
The geographical information of the Group’s revenue from external customers for the years ended 31 March 2019
and 2018 and the Group’s specified non-current assets as at 31 March 2019 and 2018 is set out below:
Revenue from external customers Specified non-current assets 2019 2018 2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Hong Kong (place of domicile) 595,467 409,935 48,035 50,110
The People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) – – 40 43
595,467 409,935 48,075 50,153
5. OTHER REVENUE
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Bank interest income 23 2
Marketing income 474 91
Others 1 –
498 93
6. OTHER NET LOSS
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Net foreign exchange loss 137 17
97Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
7. PROFIT/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXATIONProfit/(loss) before taxation is arrived at after charging:
(a) Finance costs
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Total interest expense on financial liabilities not at fair value
through profit or loss:
Interest on bank loans 395 657
Effective interest expenses of convertible bonds (note 25) 4,576 –
4,971 657
(b) Staff costs (including directors’ emoluments)
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Salaries, wages and other benefits 113,865 136,542
Contributions to defined contribution retirement plan 3,505 4,612
117,370 141,154
The Group operates a Mandatory Provident Fund Scheme (“the MPF scheme”) under the Hong Kong Mandatory
Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance for employees employed under the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Employment
Ordinance. The MPF scheme is a defined contribution retirement plan administered by independent trustees. Under
the MPF scheme, the employer and its employees are each required to make contributions to the plan at 5% of the
employees’ relevant income, subject to a cap of monthly relevant income of HK$30,000. Contributions to the plan vest
immediately.
(c) Other items
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Cost of hardware and software sold 375,599 200,319
Amortisation of intangible assets (note 13) 124 131
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (note 12) 2,687 2,654
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment – 277
Auditors’ remuneration
— audit services 750 680
— other services 90 388
Written off of trade debtors 129 –
Operating lease charges in respect of properties 1,172 1,681
98 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
8. INCOME TAX IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS(a) Income tax in the consolidated statement of profit or loss represents:
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Current tax — Hong Kong Profits Tax Provision for the year 3,734 1,524
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”), the Group is not
subject to any income tax in the Cayman Islands and the BVI.
The statutory income tax rate of the Company and its subsidiaries operated in Hong Kong was 16.5% for the year ended
31 March 2018.
On 21 March 2018, the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 7) Bill 2017 (the
“Bill”) which introduces the two-tiered profits tax rates regime. The Bill was signed into law on 28 March 2018 and
was gazetted on the following day. Under the two-tiered profits tax rates regime, the first HK$2 million of profits of
qualifying corporations will be taxed at 8.25%, and profits above HK$2 million will be taxed at 16.5%. The two-tiered
profits tax rates regime is applied from the year of assessment 2018/19.
A PRC subsidiary of the Company was qualified as “Small Low-profit Enterprise” in Guangdong and subject to a
concessionary PRC EIT rate. The Malaysia Corporate Tax standard rate is 24%.
No provision for PRC Corporate Income Tax and Malaysia Corporate Tax have been made as the subsidiaries established
in the PRC and Malaysia did not have assessable profits subject to PRC Corporate Income Tax and Malaysia Corporate
Tax respectively during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018.
(b) Reconciliation between tax expense and accounting profit/(loss) at applicable tax rates:
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Profit/(loss) before taxation 96,918 (5,559)
Notional tax on profit/(loss) before taxation, calculated at
the statutory tax rates applicable to the respective tax jurisdictions 15,990 (917)
Effect of non-deductible expenses 1,250 721
Effect of non-taxable income (11,271) (480)
Effect of unused tax losses not recognised 91 2,306
Effect of temporary differences not recognised 72 39
Effect of utilisation of unused tax losses previously not recognised (2,193) –
Statutory tax concession (40) (30)
Others (165) (115)
Actual tax expense 3,734 1,524
99Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
9. DIRECTORS’ EMOLUMENTSDirectors’ emoluments disclosed pursuant to section 383(1) of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance and Part 2 of the Companies (Disclosure of Information about Benefits of Directors) Regulation is as follows:
For the year ended 31 March 2019:
Retirement Directors’ Salaries and scheme Total fees allowances contributions HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Executive DirectorsLee Cheong Yuen (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) – 2,380 20 2,400Chan Kwok Pui (note (iii)) – 188 2 190Pang Yick Him (note (ii)) – 938 17 955
Non-executive DirectorsTuon Wai Man (note (iv)) 21 – – 21Tam Kwok Wah 900 – – 900Chan Kwok Pui (note (iii)) 806 – 16 822
Independent non-executive DirectorsKam Man Yi Margaret 165 – 8 173Cheung Siu Nang Bruce 165 – 8 173Fong Sing Chak Jack (note (vi)) 96 – 5 101Chan Mee Yee (note (v)) 47 – 2 49
2,200 3,506 78 5,784
For the year ended 31 March 2018:
Retirement Directors’ Salaries and scheme Total fees allowances contributions HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Executive DirectorsLee Cheong Yuen (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) – 2,047 18 2,065Pang Yick Him (note (ii)) – 972 18 990Yong Man Kin (note (i)) – 15 1 16
Non-executive DirectorsChan Kwok Pui 180 – 9 189Tam Kwok Wah 180 – – 180
Independent non-executive DirectorsChan Mee Yee 150 – 8 158Kam Man Yi Margaret 150 – 8 158Cheung Siu Nang Bruce 150 – 8 158
810 3,034 70 3,914
100 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
9. DIRECTORS’ EMOLUMENTS (CONTINUED)Notes:
(i) Mr. Yong Man Kin resigned as the Chairman and an executive Director of the Company on 5 April 2017. The amount for the relevant year represented the remuneration of this director from 1 April 2017 to the date of resignation.
(ii) Mr. Pang Yick Him was appointed as an executive Director of the Company on 5 April 2017 and resigned as an executive Director of the Company on 22 February 2019. The amount for the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018 represented the remuneration of this director from 1 April 2018 to the date of resignation, and from the date of appointment to 31 March 2018 respectively.
(iii) Mr. Chan Kwok Pui has re-designated from a non-executive Director to an executive Director of the Company on 22 February 2019.
(iv) Ms. Tuon Wai Man was appointed as a non-executive Director of the Company on 22 February 2019. The amount for the relevant year represented the remuneration of this director from the date of appointment.
(v) Dr. Chan Mee Yee has resigned as an independent non-executive Director of the Company on 13 July 2018. The amount for the relevant year represented the remuneration of this director from 1 April 2018 to the date of resignation.
(vi) Mr. Fong Sing Chak Jack was appointed as an independent non-executive Director of the Company on 1 September 2018. The amount for the relevant year represented the remuneration of this director from the date of appointment.
(vii) No director received any emoluments from the Group as an inducement to join or upon joining the Group or as compensation for loss of office during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018. No director waived or agreed to waive any emoluments during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018.
10. INDIVIDUALS WITH HIgHEST EMOLUMENTSOf the five individuals with the highest emoluments, one (2018: one) is director whose emoluments are disclosed in note 9.
The aggregate of the emoluments in respect of the remaining four (2018: four) individuals are as follows:
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Salaries and other emoluments 9,153 6,252
Retirement scheme contributions 90 72
9,243 6,324
The emoluments of these four (2018: four) individuals with the highest emoluments are within the following bands:
2019 2018
Number of Number of
individuals individuals
HK$1,000,001 to HK$1,500,000 1 1
HK$1,500,001 to HK$2,000,000 3 3
No emoluments were paid or payable by the Group to these employees as an inducement to join or upon joining the Group or
as compensation for loss of office during the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018.
101Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
11. EARNINgS/(LOSS) PER SHARE(a) Basic earnings/(loss) per share
The calculation of the basic earnings/(loss) per share is based on the profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of approximately HK$83,920,000 (2018: loss attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of approximately HK$11,169,000) and the weighted average number of 4,538,315,986 ordinary shares (2018: 4,062,187,432 ordinary shares) in issue during the year.
(i) Weighted average number of ordinary shares
2019 2018 Number Number of shares of shares
Issued ordinary shares at 1 April 4,218,253,968 4,000,000,000Effect of shares issued (note 27(b)) 320,062,018 62,187,432
Weighted average number of ordinary shares at 31 March 4,538,315,986 4,062,187,432
(b) Diluted earnings/(loss) per shareThe calculation of diluted earnings/(loss) per share is based on the profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of approximately HK$20,107,000 (2018: loss attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of approximately HK$14,070,000) and the weighted average number of ordinary shares of 5,032,635,582 shares (2018: 4,124,374,864 shares), calculated as follow.
(i) Profit/(loss) attributable to equity shareholders of the Company (diluted)
2019 2018 HK$’000 HK$’000
Profit/(loss) attributable to equity shareholders of the Company 83,920 (11,169)Effect of change in fair value of contingent consideration payable (21,492) (2,901)Effect of change in fair value of derivative component in convertible bonds (45,621) –Effect of gain on conversion of convertible bonds (1,276) –Effect of effective interest expense of convertible bonds 4,576 –
Profit/(loss) attributable to equity shareholders of the Company (diluted) 20,107 (14,070)
102 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
11. EARNINgS/(LOSS) PER SHARE (CONTINUED)(b) Diluted earnings/(loss) per share (Continued)
(ii) Weighted average number of ordinary shares (diluted)
2019 2018 Number of Number of shares shares
Weighted average number of ordinary shares at 31 March 4,538,315,986 4,062,187,432Effect of convertible bonds 374,189,872 –Effect of contingent consideration payable 120,129,724 62,187,432
Weighted average number of ordinary shares (diluted) at 31 March 5,032,635,582 4,124,374,864
103Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
12. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Leasehold land and buildings Furniture held for own and other use carried Leasehold Computer office Motor at cost improvements equipment equipment vehicles Total HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Cost:At 1 April 2017 48,524 3,773 3,058 502 480 56,337Additions – 1,020 147 348 – 1,515Disposals – (347) – (164) – (511)Exchange adjustments – – 27 – – 27
At 31 March 2018 48,524 4,446 3,232 686 480 57,368
At 1 April 2018 48,524 4,446 3,232 686 480 57,368Additions – – 108 – 628 736Exchange adjustments – – (18) – – (18)
At 31 March 2019 48,524 4,446 3,322 686 1,108 58,086
Accumulated depreciation:At 1 April 2017 2,348 144 1,939 124 480 5,035Depreciation for the year 1,565 456 501 132 – 2,654Written back on disposals – (155) – (79) – (234)Exchange adjustments – – 24 – – 24
At 31 March 2018 3,913 445 2,464 177 480 7,479
At 1 April 2018 3,913 445 2,464 177 480 7,479Depreciation for the year 1,565 445 387 133 157 2,687Exchange adjustments – – (15) – – (15)
At 31 March 2019 5,478 890 2,836 310 637 10,151
Carrying amount:At 31 March 2019 43,046 3,556 486 376 471 47,935
At 31 March 2018 44,611 4,001 768 509 – 49,889
The analysis of carrying amount of properties is as follows:
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
In Hong Kong
– medium-term lease 43,046 44,611
104 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
13. INTANgIBLE ASSETS
Acquired computer software HK$’000
Cost:At 1 April 2017, 31 March 2018, 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019 735
Accumulated amortisation:At 1 April 2017 340Charge for the year 131
At 31 March 2018 471
At 1 April 2018 471Charge for the year 124
At 31 March 2019 595
Carrying amount:At 31 March 2019 140
At 31 March 2018 264
The amortisation charge for the year is included in “general and administrative expenses” in the consolidated statement of
profit or loss.
105Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
14. INTERESTS IN ASSOCIATESThe following list contains the particulars of associates, which are unlisted corporate entities whose quoted market price is not
available:
Proportion of
ownership interest
Place of Particulars
incorporation of issued Group’s Held
and and paid-up effective by the Held by Principal
Name of associate operations capital interest Company a subsidiary activity
PointSoft Limited (note) Hong Kong 10,000 ordinary shares 40% – – Computer engineering
PS International Company Limited BVI 10,000 ordinary shares 40% – 40% Investment (“PS International”) of US$ 1 each holding
Bao Cheng Holdings (HK) Limited Hong Kong 2,000 ordinary shares 25% – 25% Not yet commenced business
All of the above associates are accounted for using the equity method in the consolidated financial statements.
On 20 June 2018, the Group entered in to a sale and purchase agreement in relation to the acquisition of 40% equity interest in PS International, through the acquisition of a subsidiary. PS International holds 100% interest in PointSoft Limited. PS International and PointSoft Limited are collectively referred to as the “PointSoft Group”.
The consideration of the acquisition is to be satisfied by (i) the issuance of 172,811,060 new ordinary shares of the Company as an initial consideration (the “Initial Consideration Shares”); and (ii) the issuance of a maximum number of 172,811,060 new ordinary shares of the Company based on the formula set out in the sale and purchase agreement when the audited net profit after tax of PointSoft Group shall be greater than HK$10 million for the period from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019. In accordance with the sale and purchase agreement, the total number of new ordinary shares to be issued as consideration for the acquisition must not be greater than 345,622,120.
The interests in associates are initially stated at cost of HK$61,945,000, which is measured at (i) the fair value of the Initial Consideration Shares of the Company as at the completion date (being approximately HK$31,106,000); and (ii) the fair value of contingent consideration payable as at the completion date (being approximately HK$30,839,000). The fair value of the contingent consideration payable is determined by the directors of the Company with reference to the valuation report prepared by an independent professional valuer, by applying probabilistic approach on the estimated profit of PointSoft Group for the period from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 and the probability of occurance of each expected earning scenario.
106 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
14. INTERESTS IN ASSOCIATES (CONTINUED)Summarised financial information of PointSoft groupSummarised financial information of PointSoft Group, that is material to the Group, adjusted for any difference in accounting policies, and reconciled to the carrying amount in the consolidated financial statements, are disclosed below:
PointSoft Group
2019
HK$’000
Non-current assets 19,406
Current assets 13,836
Non-current liabilities (15)
Current liabilities (3,379)
Equity 29,848
Revenue 16,708
Profit for the year 1,356
Other comprehensive income for the year –
Total comprehensive income for the year 1,356
Reconciliation of the above summarised financial information to the carrying amount of the interests in associates recognised in the consolidated financial statements
PointSoft Group
2019
HK$’000
Net assets of associates 29,848
Group’s effective interest 40%
Group’s share of net assets of associates 11,939
Goodwill (note) 50,548
Carrying amount in the consolidated financial statements 62,487
Note: The recoverable amount of the CGU is determined based on the value in use calculations, with reference to the estimated cash flows in the coming five years. Cash flows beyond five years were extrapolated by assuming a 3% growth rate using a pre-tax discount rate of 14%.
Based on the impairment assessment, no impairment loss on goodwill relating to PointSoft Group was recognised during the year ended 31 March 2019.
107Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
15. INTERESTS IN JOINT VENTURESDetails of the Group’s interests in joint ventures, which is accounted for using the equity method in the consolidated financial
statements, are as follows:
Proportion of
ownership interest
Place of Particulars
Form of incorporation of issued Group’s Held Held
business and and paid-up effective by the by a Principal
Name of joint venture structure operations capital interest Company subsidiary activity
DeepSolutions Limited Corporate Hong Kong 300 ordinary 33.33% – 33.33% Investment
(“DeepSolutions”) shares holding
DeepTranslate Limited Corporate Hong Kong 300 ordinary 33.33% – – Provision of
(“DeepTranslate”) shares translation
services for
documents
DeepSolutions holds 100% interest in DeepTranslate. DeepSolutions and DeepTranslate are collectively referred to as the
“DeepSolutions Group”. DeepSolutions Group was incorporated by the Company with other joint venture partners, to engage
in the provision of translation services for documents through the application of an artificial intelligence translation system to
be developed by DeepSolutions Group.
DeepSolutions and DeepTranslate are unlisted corporate entities.
108 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
15. INTERESTS IN JOINT VENTURES (CONTINUED)Summarised financial information of DeepSolutions Group, adjusted for any difference in accounting policies, and a
reconciliation to the carrying amount in the consolidated financial statements, are disclosed below:
DeepSolutions Group 2019 HK$’000
Non-current assets 68Current assets 1,563Non-current liabilities –Current liabilities (3,590)Equity (1,959) Included in the above assets and liabilities: Cash and cash equivalents 1,563 Revenue –Loss for the year (1,959)Other comprehensive income for the year –Total comprehensive loss for the year (1,959)
Reconciliation of the financial information of the joint ventures to the carrying amount of the interests in joint ventures recognised in the consolidated financial statements
DeepSolutions Group 2019 HK$’000
Gross amounts of joint ventures’ net assets (1,959)Group’s effective interest 33.33%Group’s share of joint ventures’ net assets (653)Group’s share of shareholders’ loan (note) 1,751Carrying amount of the Group’s interest 1,098
Note: In accordance with the terms of the joint venture agreement, all parties to the joint venture have provided loan capital to the joint venture in proportion to their shareholdings and under equal terms. The loans are unsecured, interest-free and no fixed term of repayment. Repayment of any amount of the loan requires all joint venturers’ approval and is subject to the joint venture having sufficient assets after taking into account the external financing and retained profits. Accordingly, the shareholders’ loan of approximately HK$1,751,000 (2018: HK$Nil) forms an integral part of the Group’s equity investment in joint venture and is recognised as such.
109Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
16. OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET
31 March 1 April 31 March
2019 2018 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Financial assets measured at FVOCI (non-recycling)– Unlisted shares in Hong Kong 37,800 71,709 –
Available-for-sale investments– Unlisted shares in Hong Kong – – 71,709
On 18 December 2017, the Group completed the acquisition of 15% equity interest in a private limited company incorporated
in Hong Kong (the “Investee”), through the acquisition of a subsidiary. The acquisition is to be satisfied by (i) the issuance
of 218,253,968 new ordinary shares of the Company as an initial consideration; (ii) the issuance of a maximum number
of 218,253,968 consideration shares of the Company based on the formula as set out in the relevant sale and purchase
agreement (the “S&P Agreement”) when the net profit after tax of the Investee shall be greater than HK$10 million for
the period from 1 May 2017 to 31 October 2017 (the “First Contingent Consideration Shares”); and (iii) the issuance
of a maximum number of 218,253,968 consideration shares of the Company based on the formula as set out in the S﹠P
Agreement when the net profit after tax of the Investee shall be greater than HK$10 million for the period from 1 May 2017 to
30 April 2018 (the “Second Contingent Consideration Shares”).
The investment in unlisted shares is initially stated at fair value, which is based on the fair value of consideration shares of
the Company issued as at 18 December 2017 plus the fair value of contingent consideration payable as at 18 December 2017.
The fair value of the contingent consideration payable is determined by the directors of the Company with reference to the
valuation report prepared by an independent professional valuer, by applying probabilistic approach on the estimated profit of
the Investee in respect of the two periods and the probability of occurrence of each expected earning scenario. The contingent
consideration payable was subsequently measured at fair value at the end of reporting period (see note 24 for details), and
the Company allotted 218,253,969 new shares to vendors as consideration shares on 10 August 2018 at the end of profit
guarantee period (see note 27(b) for details).
Prior to 1 April 2018, the investment in unlisted shares was measured at cost less impairment, and was reclassified to financial
assets measured at FVOCI (non-recycling) upon the initial application of HKFRS 9 at 1 April 2018 (see note 2(c)(a)). Based on
the Investee’s latest financial position and financial performance, the directors of the Company consider no impairment should
be recognised during the year ended 31 March 2018.
110 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
17. INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIESThe following list contains the particulars of subsidiaries. The class of shares held is ordinary unless otherwise stated.
Particulars of Proportion of ownership interest issued and Place of incorporation paid up/ Group’s Held and business and kind registered effective by the Held by
Name of company of legal entity capital interest Company subsidiaries Principal activity
Great Talent Holdings Limited BVI, limited liability company 100 shares of 100% 100% – Investment holding US$1 each
Wide Ocean Technologies Limited BVI, limited liability company 100 shares of 100% 100% – Investment holding US$1 each
ICO Holdings Limited Hong Kong, 10,000 shares 100% – 100% Investment holding limited liability company
ICO Group Holdings Limited Hong Kong, 1 share 100% – 100% Property holding limited liability company
ICO Investments Limited Hong Kong, 1 share 100% – 100% Not yet commenced limited liability company its business
Wide Faith Management Limited BVI, limited liability company 100 shares of 100% – 100% Investment holding US$1 each
Value Digital Limited BVI, limited liability company 1 share of 100% – 100% Investment holding US$1 each
Digital Faith International Limited BVI, limited liability company 1 share of 100% – 100% Investment holding US$1 each
ICO Limited Hong Kong, 1,000,000 shares 100% – 100% Provision of information limited liability company technology service
ICO Technology Limited Hong Kong, 1,000,000 shares 51% – 51% Provision of information limited liability company technology service
ICO IT Properties Limited BVI, limited liability company 1 share of 100% 100% - Investment holding US$1 each
ICO IT Properties (Malaysia) Limited BVI, limited liability company 1 share of 100% - 100% Investment holding US$1 each
ICO Malaysia SDN. BHD. Malaysia, 2 shares of 100% - 100% Not yet commenced limited liability company RM1 each business
Absolute Robust Limited BVI, limited liability company 11,000 shares 100% - 100% Investment holding
Tian Li Shi Software Development PRC HK$600,000 100% – 100% Dormant (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. (note) wholly-foreign-owned enterprise (天利時軟件開發(深圳)有限公司)
Catering Automation Limited BVI, limited liability company 15,000 shares of 100% - 100% Investment holding US$1 each
Note: The English translation of the name is for reference only and the official name of this entity is in Chinese.
111Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
17. INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES (CONTINUED)The following table lists out the information relating to ICO Technology Limited (“ICOT”), the only subsidiary of the Group
which has material non-controlling interests (“NCI”). The summarised financial information presented below represents the
amounts before any inter-company elimination:
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
NCI percentage of ICOT 49% 49%
Current assets 122,508 98,416
Non-current assets 97 174
Current liabilities (97,967) (86,359)
Non-current liabilities (9) (9)
Net assets attributable to owners of ICOT 24,629 12,222
Carrying amount of NCI 12,068 5,989
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Revenue 484,436 303,827
Profit for the year 18,906 8,339
Total comprehensive income 18,906 8,339
Profit and total comprehensive income allocated to NCI 9,264 4,086
Dividend paid to NCI 3,185 2,597
Cash flows generated from operating activities 6,287 16,500
Cash flows generated from/(used in) investing activities 14 (73)
Cash flows generated from/(used in) financing activities 1,022 (5,337)
112 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
18. CONTRACT ASSETS AND CONTRACT LIABILITIES(a) Contract assets
31 March 1 April 31 March
2019 2018 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
(note i) (note i)
Contract assets
Arising from performance under IT application
and solution development services 4,483 30,382 –
Notes:
(i) The Group has initially applied HKFRS 9 and HKFRS 15 using cumulative effect method and adjusted the opening balance as at 1 April 2018.
(ii) Upon the adoption of HKFRS 15, amounts previously included as “Gross amounts due from customers for contract work” under “Trade and other receivable” (note 19) were reclassified to contract assets (see note 2(c)(b))
Typical payment terms which impact on the amount of contract assets recognised are as follows:
IT application and solution development services
The provision of IT application and solution development services include payment schedules which require stage payments over the development period once milestones are reached. Certain conditions have to be satisfied before the Group entitles to the consideration under the payment terms set out in the contract. The Group typically receives a deposit on acceptance of the order on a case by case basis and this has resulted in a contract liability.
As at 31 March 2019, no contract assets (2018: HK$Nil) was expected to be recovered after more than one year.
(b) Contract liabilities
31 March 1 April 31 March
2019 2018 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
(note i) (note i)
Contract liabilities
IT application and solution development
services – Billings in advance
of performance 10,489 7,447 –
Notes:
(i) The Group has initially applied HKFRS 9 and HKFRS 15 using cumulative effect method and adjusted the opening balance as at 1 April 2018.
(ii) Upon the adoption of HKFRS 15, amounts previously included as “Gross amounts due to customers for contract work” and “Customers’ deposits received” under “Trade and other payables” (note 22) were reclassified to contract liabilities (see note 2(c)(b)).
113Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
18. CONTRACT ASSETS AND CONTRACT LIABILITIES (CONTINUED)(b) Contract liabilities (Continued)
Typical payment terms which impact on the amount of contract liabilities recognised are as follows:
IT application and solution development services
When the Group receives a deposit before the service renders, this will give rise to contract liabilities at the start of the
contract. The Group typically received deposit on acceptance of contracts and negotiated on a case by case basis with
customers.
Movement in contract liabilities
HK$’000
At 1 April 2018 7,447
Decrease in contract liabilities as a result of recognising revenue
during the year that included in the contract liabilities
at the beginning of the period (96,396)
Increase in contract liabilities as result of billing in advance 99,438
At 31 March 2019 10,489
The amount of billings in advance of performance expected to be recognised as income after more than one year is
HK$Nil (2018: HK$887,000, which were included under “trade and other payables”).
19. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES
31 March 1 April 31 March
2019 2018 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Non-currentDeposit for acquisition of a subsidiary (note 19(f)) 117,602 8,659 8,659
CurrentTrade debtors (note 19(e)) 169,322 118,004 118,004Gross amounts due from customers for contract work (note 19(d)) – – 30,382Other receivables 17 19 19Rental and other deposits 1,845 705 705Prepayments 4,672 2,245 2,245
175,856 120,973 151,355
114 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
19. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (CONTINUED)Notes:
(a) Ageing analysis of trade debtorsAs of the end of the reporting period, the ageing analysis of trade debtors (which are included in trade and other receivables), based on the date of billing, is as follows:
31 March 31 March 2019 2018 HK$’000 HK$’000
Within 1 month 132,496 91,4871 to 3 months 26,369 16,550Over 3 months 10,457 9,967
169,322 118,004
Trade debtors are due within 60 days from the date of billing. Further details on the Group’s credit policy are set out in note 28(a).
(b) Impairment of trade debtorsImpairment losses in respect of trade debtors are recorded using an allowance account unless the Group is satisfied that recovery of the amount is remote, in which case the impairment loss is written off against trade debtors directly (see note 2(j)(i)). Details of impairment assessment of trade debtors for the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018, are set out in note 28(a).
(c) Trade debtors that are not impairedThe ageing analysis of trade debtors as at 31 March 2019 and 2018 that were neither individually nor collectively considered to be impaired is as follows:
31 March 31 March 2019 2018 HK$’000 HK$’000
Neither past due nor impaired 130,503 91,367
Less than 1 month past due 19,191 12,1951 to 3 months past due 9,463 5,985
Over 3 months past due 10,165 8,457
38,819 26,637
169,322 118,004
Receivables that were neither past due nor impaired relate to a number of customers for whom there was no recent history of default.
Receivables that were past due but not impaired relate to customers that have a good credit record with the Group. Based on past experience, management believes that no impairment allowance is necessary in respect of these balances as there has not been a significant change in credit quality and the balances are still considered fully recoverable.
(d) Project contracts in progressAs at 31 March 2018, the aggregate amount of costs incurred plus recognised profits less recognised losses to date, included in the gross amounts due from customers for contract work, was approximately HK$153,872,000. No gross amount due from customers for contract work at 31 March 2018 that is expected to be recovered after more than one year.
115Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
19. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (CONTINUED)Notes: (Continued)
(e) As at 31 March 2019, the Group individually wrote off a single trade debtor amounting to HK$129,000 (2018: HK$Nil) that default its payment. The management considers that such trade debtor is not recoverable since the relevant trade debtor went into liquidation.
(f) On 6 December 2017 and 8 January 2018, ICO IT Properties (Malaysia) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has entered into a sale and purchase agreement and a supplemental sale and purchase agreement (collectively referred to as the “Acquisition Agreements”), respectively, with various vendors, at a consideration of RM145 million for the acquisition of a group of companies, which will undergo a building construction project and an online-to-offline wholesale marketplace project in Malaysia (collectively referred to as the “Project CKB”).
The consideration of RM145 million comprises of (i) RM4.5 million of cash; (ii) RM110.35 million of convertible bonds to be issued by the Company; and (iii) RM30.15 million of promissory notes to be issued by the Company.
Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreements, the total gross rental net of taxes of Malaysia for a period of eighteen months from the completion date of acquisition for the Project CKB shall not be less than RM10.5 million (the “Performance Guarantee”). In the event the Performance Guarantee cannot be achieved, a sum of RM10.15 million shall be deducted from the consideration by the non-issuance of promissory notes with a principal amount of RM10.15 million.
In addition, pursuant to the Acquisition Agreements, in the event Project CKB cannot be completed within the prescribed time in the Acquisition Agreements, a sum of RM20 million shall be deducted from the consideration and the vendors shall be released from their obligation and liability to complete the Project CKB.
As at 31 March 2019, RM4,500,000 (equivalent to approximately HK$8,659,000) (2018: RM4,500,000 or equivalent to approximately HK$8,659,000) has been paid by cash and convertible bonds measured at fair value at the date of issues of approximately HK$108,943,000 (2018: HK$Nil) have been issued as deposit for the acquisition pursuant to the payment schedule as set out in the Acquisition Agreements.
The details of convertible bonds are set out in note 25 to the financial statements.
As at the date of issuance of this annual report, the acquisition has not yet been completed.
20. PLEDgED BANK DEPOSITSAs at 31 March 2019, bank deposits of approximately HK$3,197,000 (2018: approximately HK$3,197,000) were pledged to a
bank for performance guarantees issued by the bank.
21. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS(a) Cash and cash equivalents comprise:
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Cash on hand 3 112
Cash at banks 52,977 38,174
Cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated statements of
financial position and cash flows 52,980 38,286
As at 31 March 2019, cash and cash equivalents in the amount of approximately HK$12,000 (2018: HK$60,000) are
denominated in Renminbi.
116 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
21. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (CONTINUED)(b) Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities
The table below details changes in the Group’s liabilities from financing activities, including both cash and non-cash
changes. Liabilities arising from financing activities are liabilities for which cash flows were, or future cash flows will be,
classified in the Group’s consolidated statement of cash flows as cash flows from financing activities.
Liability and
derivative
components
Bank in convertible
loans bonds Total
HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
(note 23) (note 25)
At 1 April 2018 22,900 – 22,900
Changes from financing cash flows:Proceeds from bank loans 36,640 – 36,640
Repayment of bank loans (51,949) – (51,949)
Interest on bank loans paid (395) – (395)
Total changes from financing cash flows (15,704) – (15,704)
Other changes:Interest on bank loans (note 7(a)) 395 – 395
Initial recognition on issuance of convertible bonds as
deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary – 108,943 108,943
Conversion of convertible bonds – (12,174) (12,174)
Amortisation of liability component in convertible bonds – 4,576 4,576
Fair value change on derivative component in convertible bonds – (45,621) (45,621)
Total other changes 395 55,724 56,119
At 31 March 2019 7,591 55,724 63,315
117Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
21. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (CONTINUED)(b) Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities (Continued)
Bank loans HK$’000
(note 23)
At 1 April 2017 15,500
Changes from financing cash flows:Proceeds from bank loans 60,196
Repayment of bank loans (52,796)
Interest on bank loans paid (468)
Total changes from financing cash flows 6,932
Other changes:Interest on bank loans (note 7(a)) 657
Accrued interest as included in “trade and other payables” (189)
Total other changes 468
At 31 March 2018 22,900
(c) Major non-cash transactions
During the year ended 31 March 2019, the Company entered into the following major non-cash transactions:
(i) The Company allotted and issued 172,811,060 new shares and 218,253,969 new shares to vendors in respect of
the acquisition of associates (see note 14) and other financial asset (see note 16) respectively, pursuant to the
respective sale and purchase agreements.
(ii) The Company issued convertible bonds measured at fair value at the date of issue of approximately
HK$108,943,000 as deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary (see note 19(f)).
During the year ended 31 March 2018, the Company allotted and issued 218,253,968 new shares to vendors in respect
of the acquisition of available-for-sale investment (see note 16) pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement.
118 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
22. TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES
31 March 1 April 31 March
2019 2018 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Trade creditors 73,030 51,793 51,793
Gross amounts due to customers for contract work – – 168
Customers’ deposits received – – 7,279
Accrued expenses and other payables 9,730 3,610 3,610
82,760 55,403 62,850
Notes:
(a) Ageing analysis of trade creditorsAs of the end of the reporting period, the ageing analysis of trade creditors (which are included in trade and other payables), based on the invoice date, is as follows:
31 March 31 March 2019 2018 HK$’000 HK$’000
Within 1 month 43,982 30,8511 to 3 months 29,039 20,491Over 3 months 9 451
73,030 51,793
(b) Project contract in progressAs at 31 March 2018, the aggregate amount of costs incurred plus recognised profits less recognised losses to date included in the gross amounts due to customers for contract work was approximately HK$16,560,000.
23. BANK LOANSAs at 31 March 2019, the bank loans were repayable as follows:
2019 2018 HK$’000 HK$’000
Within 1 year or demand 7,591 22,900
As at 31 March 2019, the bank loans were secured as follows:
2019 2018 HK$’000 HK$’000
Bank loans– secured and guaranteed 7,591 22,900
The effective interest rates of the bank loans are a range of 2.84% to 4.06% (2018: 2.84% to 3.16%) per annum.
119Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
23. BANK LOANS (CONTINUED)At 31 March 2019, the bank loans of the Group were secured by mortgages over the Group’s leasehold land and buildings with an aggregate carrying amount of approximately HK$41,363,000 (2018: approximately HK$42,868,000) and corporate guarantee provided by the Company. The banking facilities (including bank loans and performance bonds) granted to the Group amounted to HK$57,000,000 (2018: HK$30,000,000). The banking facilities were utilised to the extent of approximately HK$34,061,000 (2018: HK$22,900,000), comprising of bank loans of approximately HK$7,591,000 (2018: HK$22,900,000) and performance bond given by a bank of approximately HK$26,470,000 (2018: HK$Nil).
All of the Group’s banking facilities are subject to the fulfilment of covenants relating to certain of the Group’s ratios, as are commonly found in lending arrangements with financial institutions. If the Group were to breach the covenants the drawn down facilities would become payable on demand. The Group regularly monitors its compliance with these covenants. Further details of the Group’s management of liquidity risk are set out in note 28(b). As at 31 March 2019 and 2018 none of the covenants relating to drawn down facilities had been breached.
24. CONTINgENT CONSIDERATION PAYABLEThe movements of contingent consideration payable are as follow:
2019 2018 HK$’000 HK$’000
Fair value:At beginning of the year 31,268 –Initial recognition in respect of acquisition of: – other financial asset (see note 16) – 34,169– associates (see note 14) 30,839 –Change in fair value in respect of acquisition of:– other financial asset – (2,901)– associates (20,124) –Change in fair value up to settlement date in respect of acquisition of other financial asset (1,368) –Derecognition upon settlement in respect of acquisition of: – other financial asset (29,900) –
At end of the year 10,715 31,268
Total gain for the year recognised in profit or loss 21,492 2,901
During the year ended 31 March 2019, the fair value of the contingent consideration payable at initial recognition was determined by the directors of the Company with reference to the valuation report prepared by an independent professional valuer, by applying probabilistic approach on the estimated profit of associates in respect of the period from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 and the probability of occurrence of expected earning scenario. As at 31 March 2019, the fair value of the contingent consideration payable was determined by the directors of the Company with reference to the unaudited consolidated management account of associates for the year ended 31 March 2019. The issue of consideration shares is subject to the finalisation of audited consoldiated financial statements of associates for the year ended 31 March 2019.
During the year ended 31 March 2018, the fair value of the contingent consideration payable at initial recognition and at the end of the reporting period were determined by the directors of the Company with reference to the valuation report prepared by an independent professional valuer, by applying probabilistic approach on the estimated profit of the available-for-sale investment in respect of the period from 1 May 2017 to 30 April 2018 and the probability of occurrence of expected earning scenario.
The contingent consideration payable is expected to be settled within one year and therefore classified as current liabilities.
120 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
25. CONVERTIBLE BONDSDuring the year ended 31 March 2019, the Company issued convertible bonds denominated in HK dollars as deposit for the
acquisition of a subsidiary (see note 19(f)) in an aggregate principal amount of HK$84,363,180 with an initial conversion price
of HK$0.1323 per share with adjustments clauses, which will be matured on the third anniversary of respective issue dates.
The convertible bonds carry no interest.
During the year ended 31 March 2019, convertible bonds with principal amount of approximately HK$11,535,000 were
converted and the Company allotted and issued 87,186,224 new ordinary shares on 27 August 2018 accordingly.
The convertible bonds contained two components, a liability component and a derivative component. The derivative
component represented the conversion option given to the holders the right at any time to convert the convertible bonds
into ordinary shares of the Company. However, since the conversion option would be settled other than by the exchange of
a fixed amount of the Company’s own equity instruments, the conversion option was accounted for as derivative financial
instrument.
At initial recognition, the derivative component in the convertible bonds are measured at fair value and are separately
presented. Any excess of the fair values of the convertible bonds over the amounts initially recognised as derivative
component in convertible bonds are recognised as liability component in the convertible bonds.
At the end of the reporting period, the fair values of the derivative component in convertible bonds are remeasured and the
gain or loss on remeasurement to fair value are recognised in profit or loss.
The liability component in convertible bonds is subsequently carried at amortised cost with interest expenses calculated using
the effective interest method recognised in profit or loss. The effective interest rates of the liability component in convertible
bonds range from 12.74% to 15.86% per annum.
If the convertible bonds are converted, the shares issued are measured at fair value and any difference between the fair value
of shares issued and the carrying amounts of the derivative and liability components in convertible bonds are recognised in
profit or loss. During the year ended 31 March 2019, the difference between the fair value of shares issued upon conversion
of convertible bonds of approximately HK$10,898,000 and the carrying amounts of the derivative and liability components of
convertible bonds of approximately HK$12,174,000 was recognised as ”gain on conversion of convertible bonds” in profit or
loss with an amount of approximately HK$1,276,000.
The fair values of the convertible bonds as at each issue date and the derivative components in convertible bonds as at
each issue date and 31 March 2019 are determined by Integrated Professional Appraisals Limited, an independent and
professionally qualified valuer not connected to the Group, based on the binomial option pricing model. The significant inputs
used for the calculation of fair values of the convertible bonds and the derivative components, at issue and subsequent
measurement dates, are as follows:
121Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
25. CONVERTIBLE BONDS (CONTINUED)
2019
At issue date
– Share price (HK$) 0.039-0.180– Expected volatility (%) 42.824-57.410– Expected option life (year) 3.000– Risk-free rate (%) 1.793-2.096
At 31 March
– Share price (HK$) 0.062– Expected volatility (%) 38.138-41.479– Expected option life (year) 2.225-2.812– Risk-free rate (%) 1.350-1.364
On conversion date
– Share price (HK$) 0.130– Expected volatility (%) 44.319– Expected option life (year) 2.847– Risk-free rate (%) 1.898
122 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
25. CONVERTIBLE BONDS (CONTINUED)The movements of liability and derivative components in convertible bonds are as follows:
Liability Derivative
component component Total
HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
At 1 April 2017, 31 March 2018 and 1 April 2018 – – –
Initial recognition on issuance of convertible bonds 55,854 53,089 108,943
Conversion of convertible bonds (7,657) (4,517) (12,174)
Amortisation of liability component in convertible bonds 4,576 – 4,576
Fair value change on derivative component in convertible bonds – (45,621) (45,621)
At 31 March 2019 52,773 2,951 55,724
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Total gain for the year included in profit or loss for liabilities held
at the end of the reporting period 36,329 –
26. INCOME TAX IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION(a) Current taxation in the consolidated statement of financial position represents:
Current taxation movement 2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
At the beginning of the year 5,719 (968)
Charged to profit or loss (note 8(a)) (3,734) (1,524)
Tax paid for the year 1,762 8,211
At the end of the year 3,747 5,719
Analysed for reporting purpose as:
Tax recoverable 5,924 6,134
Tax payable (2,177) (415)
3,747 5,719
123Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
26. INCOME TAX IN THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (CONTINUED)(b) Deferred tax assets and liabilities recognised:
The components of deferred tax liabilities recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position and the
movements during the year are as follows:
Depreciation allowance inexcess of related depreciation
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
At the beginning of the year 161 161
Charged to profit or loss – –
At the end of the year 161 161
(c) Deferred tax assets not recognised:In accordance with the accounting policy set out in note 2(s), the Group has not recognised deferred tax assets in
respect of cumulative tax losses of approximately HK$1,239,000 (2018: approximately HK$13,979,000) as it is not
probable that future taxable profits against which the losses can be utilised will be available in the relevant tax
jurisdiction and the entity. The tax losses do not expire under current legislation.
(d) Deferred tax liabilities not recognised:There were no other material unrecognised deferred tax liabilities as at 31 March 2019 and 2018.
124 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
27. CAPITAL, RESERVES AND DIVIDENDS(a) Movement in components of equity
The reconciliation between the opening and closing balances of each component of the Group’s consolidated equity
is set out in the consolidated statement of changes in equity. Details of the changes in the Company’s individual
components of equity between the beginning and the end of the year are set out below:
(Accumulated losses)/ Share retained premium profits Total HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Balance at 1 April 2017 78,785 (12) 78,773
Changes in equity for 2017/18:Loss and total comprehensive loss for the year – (847) (847)
Shares issued for acquisition of available-for- sale investment 36,994 – 36,994
Balance at 31 March 2018 115,779 (859) 114,920
Balance at 1 April 2018 115,779 (859) 114,920
Changes in equity for 2018/19:Profit and total comprehensive income for the year – 31,564 31,564Shares issued for acquisition of an associate 30,675 – 30,675Shares issued upon conversion of convertible bonds 10,680 – 10,680Shares issued for settlement of contingent consideration
payable in relation to acquisition of other financial asset 29,354 – 29,354
Balance at 31 March 2019 186,488 30,705 217,193
125Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
27. CAPITAL, RESERVES AND DIVIDENDS (CONTINUED)(b) Share capital
Authorised and issued share capital
2019 2018
Number of Number of
shares shares
HK$’000 HK$’000
Authorised:Ordinary shares of HK$0.0025 each 40,000,000,000 100,000 40,000,000,000 100,000
Issued and fully paid: At 1 April 4,218,253,968 10,546 4,000,000,000 10,000
Shares issued for acquisition of
other financial asset (note (i)) – – 218,253,968 546
Shares issued for acquisition of
an associate (note (ii)) 172,811,060 431 – –
Shares issued upon conversion of
convertible bonds (note (iii)) 87,186,224 218 – –
Shares issued for settlement of contingent
consideration payable in relation
to acquisition of other financial
asset (note (i)) 218,253,969 546 – –
At 31 March 4,696,505,221 11,741 4,218,253,968 10,546
The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one
vote per share at meetings of the Company. All ordinary shares rank equally with regard to the Company’s residual
assets.
126 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
27. CAPITAL, RESERVES AND DIVIDENDS (CONTINUED)(b) Share capital (Continued)
Authorised and issued share capital (Continued)
Notes:
(i) On 18 December 2017 and 10 August 2018, the Company allotted and issued 218,253,968 and 218,253,969 new shares respectively, to vendors in respect of the acquisition of the other financial asset/available-for-sale investment (see note 16) pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement.
(ii) On 4 July 2018, the Company alloted and issued 172,811,060 new shares to the vendors in respect of the acquisition of associates (see note 14) pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement.
(iii) On 27 August 2018, the Company allotted and issued 87,186,224 new shares upon the conversion of convertible bond issued as deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement (see note 25).
(c) Nature and purpose of reserves
(i) Share premium
Share premium arose from the issue of shares at a price greater than the par value of the shares.
The share premium account is governed by the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands and may be applied by the
Company subject to the provisions, if any, of its memorandum and articles of association in paying distributions
or dividends to equity shareholders.
No distribution or dividend may be paid to the equity shareholders out of the share premium account unless
immediately following the date on which the distribution or dividend is proposed to be paid, the Company will be
able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
(ii) Exchange reserve
The exchange reserve represents foreign exchange differences arising from the translation of the financial
statements of companies outside Hong Kong. The reserve is dealt with in accordance with the accounting policy
set out in note 2(v).
(iii) Fair value reserve
The fair value reserve comprises the cumulative net change in the fair value of financial assets measured at
FVOCI (non-recycling)/available-for-sale investments held at the end of the reporting period and is dealt with in
accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes 2(i) and 2(j)(i).
127Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
27. CAPITAL, RESERVES AND DIVIDENDS (CONTINUED)(d) Dividends
The directors of the Company do not recommend the payment of any dividend for the year ended 31 March 2019 (2018:
Nil).
(e) Capital managementThe Group’s primary objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going
concern, so that it can continue to provide returns for equity owners and benefits for other stakeholders and to
maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.
The Group actively and regularly reviews and manages its capital structure to maintain a balance between the higher
shareholder returns that might be possible with higher levels of borrowings and the advantages and security afforded by
sound capital position, and makes adjustments to capital structure in light of changes in economic conditions.
The Group monitors its capital structure on the basis of an adjusted debt-to-capital ratio. For this purpose, the Group
defines adjusted debt as total debt (which includes interest-bearing bank loans, liability component in convertible bonds,
contract liabilities and trade and other payables) plus unaccrued proposed dividends, less cash and cash equivalents and
pledged bank deposits. Adjusted capital comprises all components of equity less unaccrued proposed dividends.
During the year, the Group’s strategy (which was unchanged from 2018) was to maintain an adjusted debt-to-capital
ratio of no more than 100%. In order to maintain or adjust the ratio, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends
paid to equity owners of the Company, issue new shares, raise new debt financing or sell assets to reduce debt. As at 31
March 2019, the adjusted debt-to-capital ratio of the Group was 28.7% (2018: 20.9%).
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.
128 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
28. FINANCIAL RISK MANAgEMENT AND FAIR VALUESExposure to credit, liquidity, interest rate, currency risks arise in the normal course of the Group’s business. The Group is also
exposed to equity price risk arising from moments in its own equity share price. The Group’s exposure to these risks and the
financial risk management policies and practices used by the Group to manage these risks are described below.
(a) Credit riskThe Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to trade and other receivables, contract assets, deposit for acquisition of
a subsidiary, pledged bank deposits, cash at banks and other financial assets. Management has credit policy in place and
the exposures to these credit risks are monitored on an ongoing basis.
In respect of trade and other receivables and contract assets, individual credit evaluations are performed on all
customers and debtors requiring credit over a certain amount. These evaluations focus on the past history of making
payments of the customers/debtors when due and current ability to pay, and take into account information specific
to the customers/debtors as well as pertaining to the economic environment in which the customers/debtors operate.
For project contracts, the Group generally requires customers to settle billings in accordance with the contracted
terms, whereas for sales of goods and provision of services, the Group generally requires customers to settle billings (a)
immediately after the completion of related transactions or (b) in accordance with the contracted terms. Normally, the
Group does not obtain collateral from customers.
In respect of trade debtors, the Group’s exposure to credit risk is influenced mainly by the individual characteristics
of each customer/debtor rather than the industry or country in which the customers/debtors operate and therefore
significant concentrations of credit risk primarily arise when the Group has significant exposure to individual customers/
debtors. As at 31 March 2019, 38% (2018: 19%) of the trade debtors was due from the Group’s largest debtors; and
53% (2018: 48%) of the trade debtors was due from the Group’s five largest debtors.
Impairment of financial assets
Trade and other receivables, contract assets, pledged bank deposits, cash at banks and other financial assets are subject
to the ECL model.
(i) Trade debtors and contract assets
Beginning on 1 April 2018, the Group applies the HKFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring ECL which uses a
lifetime expected loss allowance for all trade debtors and contract assets.
To measure the ECL, trade debtors and contract assets have been grouped based on shared credit risk
characteristics and the days past due. The contract assets have substantially the same risk characteristics as the
trade debtors for the same types of contracts. The Group has therefore concluded that the expected loss rates for
trade debtors are a reasonable approximation of the loss rates for the contract assets.
The Group measures loss allowances for trade debtors and contract assets individually or at an amount equal to
lifetime ECLs, which is calculated using a provision matrix. As the Group’s historical credit loss experience does not
indicate significantly different loss patterns for different customer segments, the loss allowance based on past
due status is not further distinguished between the Group’s different customer bases.
129Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
28. FINANCIAL RISK MANAgEMENT AND FAIR VALUES (CONTINUED)(a) Credit risk (Continued)
Impairment of financial assets (Continued)
(i) Trade debtors and contract assets (Continued)
Trade debtors of approximately HK$169,322,000 and contract assets of approximately HK$4,483,000 are assessed
based on a provision matrix within lifetime ECLs. As at 31 March 2019, no material impairment allowance on trade
debtors and contract assets was provided based on the provision matrix in accordance with HKFRS 9. Trade debtor
of approximately HK$129,000 has been written off during the year.
There was no material impact on trade debtors and contract assets for the initial application of the new
impairment requirements under HKFRS 9 compared with under HKAS 39.
Comparative information under HKAS 39Prior to 1 April 2018, an impairment loss was recognised only when there was objective evidence of impairment
(see note 2(j)(i) — policy applicable prior to 1 April 2018). At 31 March 2018, no trade debtors was determined to
be impaired.
The ageing analysis of trade debtors that were not considered to be impaired was disclosed in note 19(c).
Receivables that were neither past due nor impaired related to a wide range of customers for whom there was no
recent history of default.
Receivables that were past due but not impaired related to a number of independent customers that had a good
track record with the Group. Based on past experience, management believed that no impairment allowance was
necessary in respect of these balances as there had been no significant change in credit quality and the balances
were still considered fully recoverable.
(ii) Other receivables and deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary
Management considers that its credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition with reference
to the counterparty historical default rate and current financial position. The impairment provision is determined
based on the 12-month expected credit losses which was immaterial.
(iii) Pledged bank deposits and cash at bank
Cash is deposited with financial institutions with sound credit ratings and the Group has exposure limit to any
single financial institution. Given their high credit ratings, management does not expect any of these financial
institutions will fail to meet their obligations.
The Group does not provide any guarantees which would expose the Group to credit risk.
Further quantitative disclosures in respect of the Group’s exposure to credit risk arising from contract assets and trade
and other receivables are set out in notes 18 and 19 respectively.
130 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
28. FINANCIAL RISK MANAgEMENT AND FAIR VALUES (CONTINUED)(b) Liquidity risk
Individual operating entities within the Group are responsible for their own cash management, including the short
term investment of cash surpluses and the raising of loans to cover expected cash demands, subject to approval by the
parent company’s board when the borrowings exceed certain predetermined levels of authority. The Group’s policy is
to regularly monitor its liquidity requirements and its compliance with lending covenants, to ensure that it maintains
sufficient reserves of cash and adequate committed lines of funding from major financial institutions to meet its
liquidity requirements in the short and longer term.
All financial liabilities disclosed in the consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 March 2018 are required to
be settled within one year or on demand and the total contractual undiscounted cash flows of the financial liabilities
(excluding contingent consideration payable) are not materially different from their carrying amounts as at 31 March
2018.
The following tables show the remaining contractual maturities at 31 March 2019 of the Group’s non-derivative
financial liabilities, which are based on contractual undiscounted cash flows (including interest payments computed
using contractual rates or, if floating, based on rates current at the end of the reporting period) and the earliest date the
Group can be required to pay:
2019 Contractual undiscounted cash flow
More than More than Total Within 1 1 year but 2 years but contractual Carrying year or on less than less than undiscounted amount at demand 2 years 5 years cash flow 31 March HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Non-derivative financial liabilitiesTrade and other payables 82,760 – – 82,760 82,760Contract liabilities 10,489 – – 10,489 10,489Bank loans 7,622 – – 7,622 7,591Liability component in convertible
bonds – – 72,828 72,828 52,773
100,871 – 72,828 173,699 153,613
131Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
28. FINANCIAL RISK MANAgEMENT AND FAIR VALUES (CONTINUED)(c) Interest rate risk
The Group’s interest rate risk arises primarily from bank loans and cash at banks. Banks loans issued at fixed rates expose
the Group to fair value interest rate risk. The Group’s interest rate profile as monitored by the management is set out in
note (i) below.
The Group does not anticipate significant impact to cash at banks because the interest rates of bank deposits are not
expected to change significantly. Other than short-term bank loans which carry interest at fixed interest rates, the Group
has no other significant interest-bearing assets or liabilities. Therefore, the interest rate risk mainly arises from short-term
bank loans.
However, the interest expenses derived therefrom are relatively insignificant to the Group’s operations. Therefore, the
Group’s income and operating cash flows are less dependent on changes in market interest rates. Accordingly, the directors
of the Company are of the opinion that the Group does not have significant cash flow and fair value interest rate risk and
no sensitivity analysis is performed.
i) Interest rate profileThe following table details the interest rate profile of the Group’s bank loans at the end of each reporting period:
2019 2018 Effective Effective interest rate Amount interest rate Amount HK$’000 HK$’000
Fixed rate borrowings: Bank loans 2.84%-4.06% 7,591 2.84%-3.16% 22,900 per annum per annum
(d) Foreign currency exchange riskFor presentation purposes, the Group’s financial statements is shown in Hong Kong dollars, which is also the functional
currency of the Company. The companies within the Group, whose functional currencies are different from Hong Kong
dollars, have translated their financial statements into Hong Kong dollars for consolidation purpose.
The management considers that the Group is not exposed to significant foreign currency risk as majority of the Group’s
transactions are denominated in Hong Kong dollars. For the monetary assets and monetary liabilities denominated
in other currencies since the amounts are not material, the management considers the exposure of exchange rate
fluctuation is not significant for the year. Accordingly, no foreign currency sensitivity analysis is presented.
The Group currently does not have a foreign currency hedging policy but the management monitors foreign exchange
exposure and will consider hedging significant foreign currency exposure should the need arise.
132 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
28. FINANCIAL RISK MANAgEMENT AND FAIR VALUES (CONTINUED)(e) Equity price risk
The Group is exposed to equity price changes arising from equity unlisted investments which are held for long term
strategic purpose. Their performance is assessed at least bi-annually against performance of similar listed entities, based
on the limited information available to the Group, together with an assessment of their relevance to the Group’s long
term strategic plans.
The Group is also exposed to equity price risk arising from changes in the Company’s own share price to the extent
that the Company’s own equity instruments underlie the fair values of (i) the contingent consideration payable; and (ii)
derivative component in convertible bonds of the Group at the end of reporting period.
As at 31 March 2019, it is estimated that the possible increase of 5% in the price/earning ratios of comparable listed
companies (for unlisted investments) with other variables held constant would have increased the Group’s other
components of consolidated equity by approximately HK$1,800,000 (2018: HK$Nil). Had the relevant price/earning
ratios of comparable listed companies been 5% lower, there would have decreased the Group’s other components of
consolidated equity by approximately HK$1,900,000 (2018: HK$Nil).
As at 31 March 2018, it is estimated that the possible increase of 5% in the Company’s own share price with
other variables held constant would have increased the Group’s loss for the year and decreased retained profits by
approximately HK$1,563,000. Had the relevant equity prices been 5% lower, there would be an equal and opposite effect
on the loss for the year and retained profits.
As at 31 March 2019, the management considers that the equity price risk of the contingent consideration payable and
the derivative component in convertible bonds are insignificant and therefore no sensitivity analysis on such risk has
been prepared.
(f) Fair values measurement(i) Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value
Fair value hierarchy
The following table presents the fair value of the Group’s financial instruments measured at the end of the
reporting period on a recurring basis, categorised into the three-level fair value hierarchy as defined in HKFRS 13
“Fair Value Measurement”. The level into which a fair value measurement is classified is determined with reference
to the observability and significance of the inputs used in the valuation technique as follows:
• Level 1 valuations: Fair value measured using only Level 1 inputs, that is, unadjusted quoted prices in active
markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date
• Level 2 valuations: Fair value measured using Level 2 inputs, that is, observable inputs which fail to meet
Level 1, and not using significant unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs are inputs for which market
data are not available
• Level 3 valuations: Fair value measured using significant unobservable inputs
133Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
28. FINANCIAL RISK MANAgEMENT AND FAIR VALUES (CONTINUED)(f) Fair values measurement (Continued)
(i) Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value (Continued)
Fair value hierarchy (Continued)
The Group engages an independent professional valuer performing valuation for its other financial asset,
derivative component in convertible bonds and contingent consideration payable, which is categorised into Level
3 of the fair value hierarchy. Valuation report with analysis of changes in fair value measurement is prepared by
independent valuer at each interim and annual reporting date, and is reviewed by the financial controller and
approved by the directors of the Company. Discussion of the valuation process and results with the financial
controller and audit committee is held twice a year, to coincide with the reporting dates.
Fair value measurements Fair value measurementsDescription Fair value at as at 31 March 2019 Fair value at as at 31 March 2018 31 March categorised into 31 March categorised into 2019 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 2018 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Recurring fair value measurementsAssets:Other financial asset 37,800 – – 37,800 – – – –Liabilities:Contingent consideration payable 10,715 – – 10,715 31,268 – – 31,268Derivative component in convertible bonds 2,951 – – 2,951 – – – –
During the years ended 31 March 2019 and 2018, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, or
transfers into or out of Level 3. The Group’s policy is to recognise transfers between levels of fair value hierarchy
as at the end of the reporting period in which they occur.
Information about Level 3 fair value measurements
Change in the relevant Favourable / Valuation Significant Range of significant (unfavourable) changeDescription Fair value at 31 March technique inputs inputs inputs in profit or loss 2019 2018 2019 2018 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Financial asset at fair valueOther financial asset 37,800 – Market-based Marketability 27.57% +5% (2,400) – approach discount (note 1) -5% 2,300 –Financial liability at fair valueDerivative component in 2,951 – Binomial option Expected 38.138%- +5% (1,037) – convertible bonds pricing model volatility (note 2) 41.479% -5% 734 –
Notes:
1. The fair value measurement of other financial asset is negatively correlated to the marketability discount.
2. The fair value measurement of derivative component in convertible bonds is positively correlated to the expected volatility.
134 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
28. FINANCIAL RISK MANAgEMENT AND FAIR VALUES (CONTINUED)(f) Fair values measurement (Continued)
(i) Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value (Continued)
Information about Level 3 fair value measurements (Continued)
As at 31 March 2018, contingent consideration payable of approximately HK$31,268,000 was measured at fair
value using probabilistic approach, in which the significant inputs to the valuation technique is the probability-
weighted profit. The estimated profit adopted in the valuation ranging from approximately HK$17,630,000 to
HK$20,119,000. The fair value measurement of contingent consideration payable is positively correlated to
the probability-weighted profit. It was estimated that the possible increase of 5% in the probability-weighted
profit with other variables held constant would have increased the Group’s loss for the year by approximately
HK$1,075,000. Had the probability-weighted profit been 5% lower, there would have decreased the Group’s
loss for the year by approximately HK$2,997,000. As at 31 March 2019, the management considers that the
probability-weighted profit would have insignificant effect to the fair value of contingent consideration payable
and therefore no sensitivity analysis has been prepared.
The movements of contingent consideration payable and derivative components in convertible bonds during the
year of these Level 3 fair value measurements are set out in notes 24 and 25 respectively.
The movement of other financial asset during the year of this Level 3 fair value measurement is set out below:
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
At 1 April 71,709 –
Additions through issuance of the Company’s shares (note 27(b)(i)) – 37,540
Fair value of contingent consideration payable recognised (note 24) – 34,169
Fair value change recognised in other comprehensive income (33,909) –
37,800 71,709
(ii) Fair value of financial instruments carried at other than fair value
The carrying amounts of the Group’s financial instruments carried at cost or amortised cost are not materially
different from their fair values as at 31 March 2019 and 2018.
135Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
29. OPERATINg LEASE COMMITMENTSAs at 31 March 2019, the total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are payable as follows:
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Within one year 1,133 1,055
After one year but within five years 208 1,406
1,341 2,461
The Group is the lessee in respect of the Group’s offices under operating leases. The leases typically run for an initial period of
one to three years, with an option to renew when all terms are renegotiated. Lease payments are usually increased at the end
of the lease term to reflect market rentals. None of the leases includes contingent rentals.
30. CAPITAL COMMITMENTAcquisition of O2O LimitedOn 6 December 2017, ICO IT Properties (Malaysia) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has entered into the
conditional sale and purchase agreement with Rainbow Field Investment Limited, Teoh Teng Guan, Tan Yun Harn and Lau Chuen
Yien Calvin at a consideration of RM145 million in relation to acquisition of the entire issued capital of O2O Limited. As at 31
March 2019, there is a capital commitment of RM97.3 million (2018: RM140.5 million) in relation to the proposed acquisition of
O2O Limited.
Completion of the acquisition of O2O Limited is subject to satisfaction of conditions precedent as set out in the conditional
sale and purchase agreement. As at 31 March 2019, the proposed acquisition was not yet completed. Details of the acquisition
of O2O Limited are disclosed in note 19(f) to the consolidated financial statements.
31. CONTINgENT LIABILITIES
During the year ended 31 March 2019, a performance bond of HK$26,470,000 (2018: HK$Nil) was given by a bank in favour of
a customer of the Group to protect the customer from the Group‘s default on its obligation under the contract.
At the end of the reporting period, the directors of the Company do not consider it probable that a claim will be made against
the Group.
136 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
32. ACQUISITION OF ASSOCIATES/OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET THROUgH ACQUISITION OF A SUBSIDIARYFor the year ended 31 March 2019On 20 June 2018, Value Digital Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a sale and purchase
agreement with certain independent third parties to acquire 40% equity interest in PS International, a company incorporated
in the BVI, through the acquisition of the entire equity interest in Catering Automation Limited. PS International holds 100%
interest in PointSoft Limited. The acquisition was completed on 28 June 2018.
Catering Automation Limited is an investment holding company, and the sole asset of Catering Automation Limited acquired
at the date of completion was the investments in associates (that is, PS International and PointSoft Limited). Accordingly, the
acquisition had been accounted for acquisition of asset. Details of the acquisition are disclosed in note 14.
For the year ended 31 March 2018On 10 November 2017, Value Digital Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a sale and purchase
agreement with certain independent third parties to acquire 15% equity interest in a private limited company incorporated in
Hong Kong, through the acquisition of the entire equity interest in Absolute Robust Limited. The acquisition was completed on 18
December 2017.
Absolute Robust Limited is an investment holding company, and the sole asset of Absolute Robust Limited acquired at the date
of completion was available-for-sale investment. Accordingly, the acquisition had been accounted for acquisition of asset.
Details of the acquisition are disclosed in note 16.
33. MATERIAL RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONSKey management personnel remunerationRemuneration for key management personnel of the Group, including amounts paid to the Company’s directors as disclosed in
note 9 and certain of the highest paid employees of the Group as disclosed in note 10, is as follows:
2019 2018
HK$’000 HK$’000
Short-term employee benefits 9,189 7,444
Post-employment benefits 109 106
9,298 7,550
Total remuneration is included in staff costs (see note 7(b)).
137Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
34. COMPANY-LEVEL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
31 March 31 March 2019 2018 Note HK$’000 HK$’000
Non-current assetsInvestments in subsidiaries 17 1 1Amounts due from subsidiaries 284,327 –
284,328 1
Current assetsAmounts due from subsidiaries – 125,105Tax recoverable 390 390
390 125,495
Current liabilitiesAccrued expenses (60) (30)Derivative component in convertible bonds (2,951) –
(3,011) (30)
Net current (liabilities)/assets (2,621) 125,465
Total assets less current liabilities 281,707 125,466
Non-current liabilities Liability component in convertible bonds (52,773) –
Net assets 228,934 125,466
Capital and reserves 27Share capital 11,741 10,546Reserves 217,193 114,920
Total equity 228,934 125,466
Approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on 27 June 2019 and were signed on its behalf by:
Lee Cheong Yuen Chan Kwok Pui
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Executive Director
138 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFor the year ended 31 March 2019
35. POSSIBLE IMPACT OF AMENDMENTS, NEW STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS ISSUED BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2019Up to the date of issue of these financial statements, the HKICPA has issued a number of amendments, new standards and
interpretations which are not yet effective for the year ended 31 March 2019 and which have not been adopted in these
financial statements. These include the following which may be relevant to the Group.
Effective for accounting periods beginning on or after
HKFRS 16 “Leases” 1 January 2019
HK(IFRIC) Int-23 “Uncertainty over income tax treatments” 1 January 2019
Amendments to HKAS 28 “Long-term interest in associates and joint ventures” 1 January 2019
Amendments to HKFRS 3 “Business” 1 January 2020*
Amendments to HKFRS 10 and HKAS 28 “Sale and contribution of assets between To be determined
an investor and its associate or joint venture”
Annual Improvements to HKFRSs 2015-2017 Cycle 1 January 2019
* Effective for business combinations and asset acquisitions for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual period beginning on or after 1 January 2020.
The Group is in the process of making an assessment of what the impact of these amendments, new standards and
interpretations is expected to be in the period of initial application. So far the Group has identified some aspects of the new
standards which may have significant impacts on the consolidated financial statements. Further details of the expected
impacts are discussed below. While the assessment has been substantially completed for HKFRS 16, the actual impact upon
the initial adoption of this standard may differ as the assessment completed to date is based on the information currently
available to the Group, and further impacts may be identified before the standard is initially applied in the Group’s interim
financial report for the six months ending 30 Septmeber 2019. The Group may also change its accounting policy elections,
including the transition options, until the standard is initially applied in that interim financial report.
HKFRS 16 “Leases”As disclosed in note 2(h), currently the Group classifies leases into finance leases and operating leases and accounts for the
lease arrangements differently, depending on the classification of the lease. The Group enters into leases as the lessee.
HKFRS 16 is not expected to impact significantly on the way that lessors account for their rights and obligations under a
lease. However, once HKFRS 16 is adopted, lessees will no longer distinguish between finance leases and operating leases.
Instead, subject to practical expedients, lessees will account for all leases in a similar way to current finance lease accounting,
i.e. at the commencement date of the lease the lessee will recognise and measure a lease liability at the present value of
the minimum future lease payments and will recognise a corresponding “right-of-use” asset. After initial recognition of this
asset and liability, the lessee will recognise interest expense accrued on the outstanding balance of the lease liability, and the
depreciation of the right-of-use asset, instead of the current policy of recognising rental expenses incurred under operating
leases on a systematic basis over the lease term. As a practical expedient, the lessee can elect not to apply this accounting
model to short-term leases (i.e. where the lease term is 12 months or less) and to leases of low-value assets, in which case the
rental expenses would continue to be recognised on a systematic basis over the lease term.
139Annual Report 2018/19 • ICO Group Limited
For the year ended 31 March 2019
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
35. POSSIBLE IMPACT OF AMENDMENTS, NEW STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS ISSUED BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2019 (CONTINUED)HKFRS 16 “Leases” (Continued)
HKFRS 16 will primarily affect the Group’s accounting as a lessee of leases for properties which are currently classified as
operating leases. The application of the new accounting model is expected to lead to an increase in both assets and liabilities
and to impact on the timing of the expense recognition in the statement of profit or loss over the period of the lease.
HKFRS 16 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. As allowed by HKFRS 16, the Group plans to
use the practical expedient to grandfather the previous assessment of which existing arrangements are, or contain, leases. The
Group will therefore apply the new definition of a lease in HKFRS 16 only to contracts that are entered into on or after the
date of initial application. In addition, the Group plans to elect the practical expedient for not applying the new accounting
model to short-term leases and leases of low-value assets.
The Group plans to elect to use the modified retrospective approach for the adoption of HKFRS 16 and will recognise the
cumulative effect of initial application as an adjustment to the opening balance of equity at 1 April 2019 and will not restate
the comparative information. As disclosed in note 29, at 31 March 2019, the Group’s future minimum lease payments under
non-cancellable operating leases amount to approximately HK$1,341,000 for properties, the majority of which is payable
either within one year after the reporting date. Upon the initial adoption of HKFRS 16, the opening balances of lease liabilities
and the corresponding right-of-use assets will be adjusted to approximately HK$1,215,000 and approximately HK$1,502,000
respectively, after taking account the effects of discounting, as at 1 April 2019.
36. COMPARATIVE FIgURESThe Group has initially applied HKFRS 9 and HKFRS 15 at 1 April 2018. Under the transition methods chosen, comparative
information is not restated. Further details of the changes in accounting policies are set out in note 2(c).
37. ULTIMATE CONTROLLINg PARTYThe directors regard Mr. Lee Cheong Yuen, Mr. Yong Man Kin, Mr. Chan Kwok Pui and Mr. Tam Kwok Wah through their direct
shareholdings in the Company as being the ultimate controlling parties. The Company does not have any parent company.
38. NON-ADJUSTINg EVENT AFTER THE REPORTINg PERIODOn 21 June 2019, the Company issued convertible bonds with principal amount of approximately HK$8,058,000 as part of
deposit for acquisition of a subsidiary as detailed in note 19(f).
140 ICO Group Limited • Annual Report 2018/19
FINANCIAL SUMMARYFor the years ended 31 March 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019
RESULTS
Year ended 31 March 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Revenue 389,268 505,117 487,468 409,935 595,467
Profit/(loss) before taxation 30,320 39,607 41,592 (5,559) 96,918Income tax (6,116) (6,630) (7,684) (1,524) (3,734)
Profit/(loss) for the year 24,204 32,977 33,908 (7,083) 93,184
Profit /(loss) attributable to:
Equity shareholders of the Company 20,067 28,817 30,445 (11,169) 83,920 Non-controlling interests 4,137 4,160 3,463 4,086 9,264
24,204 32,977 33,908 (7,083) 93,184
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
As at 31 March 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000 HK$’000
Total assets 215,360 244,543 248,250 329,493 509,503Total liabilities (90,296) (88,540) (64,224) (117,594) (169,617)
Total equity 125,064 156,003 184,026 211,899 339,886Non-controlling interests (5,011) (6,917) (4,500) (5,989) (12,068)
Total equity attributable to equity
shareholders of the Company 120,053 149,086 179,526 205,910 327,818
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